


c Ihe 

Fieldmen’s Manual 

A HANDBOOK OF 

FIRE PREVENTION 

ADAPTED TO 

FLOUR MILLS AND 
GRAIN ELEVATORS 



Chioaso, Illinois 



COPYRIGHT 1921 BY 

MUTUAL FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU 












this book is the property of 
the mutual Fire prevention 
bureau. It must be returned 

UPON REQUEST. 


©CU624428 



V 






.SEP 19 182! 




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^ INDEX 


CHAPTER 

I. 

CHAPTER 

II . . . 

CHAPTER 

Ill .., 

CHAPTER 

IV ... 

CHAPTER 

V .... 

CHAPTER 

VI ... 

CHAPTER 

VII .. 

CHAPTER 

VIII.. 

CHAPTER 

IX ... 

CHAPTER 

X ... 

CHAPTER 

XI . .. 

CHAPTER 

XII .. 

CHAPTER 

XIII . 

CHAPTER XIV . 

CHAPTER 

XV .. 

CHAPTER 

XVI .. 

CHAPTER 

XVII . 


.The Fieldman 

. Flour Mills 

.Elevators 

.Data for Figuring Valuations 

... External Hazards 

.Electrical Inspections 

.Power Except Electric 

.Machinery and Special Hazards 

.. The Bucket Elevator 

. Heating 

.Interior Fire Protection 

(Except Automatic Sprinklers) 

.Exterior Fire Protection 

.Lightning Protection 

.Superior Building Construction 

.Watchman Service 

.Fumigation 

.....Miscellaneous 






























CHAPTER I 
THE FIELDMAN 




THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


1 


CHAPTER 1. 

THE FIELD MAN. 

This manual has been prepared with the idea of aiding the 
young inspector to gain a correct knowledge of the fire hazards 
he may expect to encounter, and the proper remedy for the same, 
and to aid him in collecting and presenting the data for his report, 
and it is intended for all inspectors as a reference to which they 
may turn for Mutual Standards of construction and installation. 

The responsibility which rests on the field man with relation 
to his company and to his clients is by no means trivial. M A. 
Reynolds, Secretary of the Millers National Insurance Company, 
stated their responsibility so clearly and so well in his talk to his 
field men at a meeting in the Union League Club, in June, 1919, 
that we can do no better than to quote his words. “It is trite and 
elementary to say that the field man is the periscope, receiver and 
transmitter of the Company; its eye, ear, and voice. Through him 
it sees the risk, hears about its owner, and learns what he thinks 
of both. 

“It is through him that the necessary contact is made between 
the insurer and the insured, and the business relations growing out 
of such contact established in the first instance, and maintained or 
disrupted as time goes on. 

“In ninety-five cases in a hundred the impression of the Com¬ 
pany formed by the assured as to its character, management, and 
methods, are given him by the field man. It is true that the corre¬ 
spondent at the home office is also to a large extent responsible 
for maintaining and continuing satisfactory relations during the life 
of the contract existing between the Company and the assured, 
but the latter rarely and sometimes never sees the home office or 
the man he corresponds with, so the fact remains that the field 
man is to all intents and purposes, the company itself, so far 
as the assured and his relations to it are concerned. 

“He is the flesh and blood, the living point of contact between 
the distant corporation, ‘without a body to be kicked or a soul 
to be damned/ and the individual firm, or corporation, which de¬ 
sires the Company’s protection. 

“Grant this, and it follows that without disparaging the im¬ 
portant part the home office must of necessity play in the relation¬ 
ship, your responsibility is large and continuous, not only in secur¬ 
ing the risk in the first place, but in retaining it as a desirable and 
profitable unit of the company’s business. 

“We shall have to give more attention to holding what we 
have and avoid so far as possible losing risks which were at one 
time desirable but on account of changing conditions are falling 
into the questionable class. In my judgment your efforts should 
be in the direction of conciliation and helpful effort to gradually 
bring such risks up to the new and better standards, where the 
assured gives reasonable evidence of a fair degree of co-operation 
and is at all receptive to your suggestions, thus keeping the busi¬ 
ness on the books rather than forcing a cancellation by arbitrary 
and ruthless requirements hastily insisted upon which not only 
lose us the business, but makes a life enemy of the assured. 


2 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


“Approach the assured in all cases where material improve¬ 
ments are necessary and radical changes desirable, in an attitude of 
stroking the fur the right way; convincing him that it is for his best 
interests that you are asking for the expenditure of his time and 
money, by going over the risk with him, showing why the require¬ 
ments are made and exactly how the risk will be improved, avoiding 
so far as possible, trivial or technical requirements which look 
formidable on paper and help to give the risk an unnecessary 
black eye, and which at the same time might furnish an excuse for 
an argument, and a denunciation of your judgment to the home 
office. 

“Court discussion of the points at issue, laying your cards upon 
the table instead of going through the risk alone and writing out 
your requirements and presenting them at the office in a ‘take it or 
leave it/ ‘do it now or we cancel/ attitude, which may possibly get 
you what you want through fear of consequences but which is much 
more likely to provoke antagonism, and is always certain to leave 
more or less ill feeling which nothing will ever quite dissipate. 

“The word ‘service’ is coming to be a catch phrase and like 
liberty, if we are not careful, will have many crimes committed in 
its name. But aside from its hackneyed use and in spite of its 
being overworked until there is danger of its becoming mean¬ 
ingless, there is something of value in the idea and more in its 
actual practice. 

“Therefore, make it a point to render every possible aid to the 
assured in any direction where you can be helpful, so he may feel 
that the good we are able to do him in the way of suggestions for 
the betterment and care of his risk, and the co-operation that he 
has from you and the company you represent, is of more conse¬ 
quence than the trifling saving in dollars and cents in his premium 
account, which heretofore has been his only incentive to place his 
insurance with us. 

“Devotion to the assured’s interests is not to be confined to the 
larger mills, but it should extend away down the line to the humb¬ 
lest policy holder on our books, and the same courtesy and disposi¬ 
tion to be helpful exercised in the case of the 50 barrel miller as is 
given the largest capacity on our books. 

“Make them all our friends, big and little, high rated and low, 
for if we have them at all they are a part of us, and we want them 
to know it, and to so highly regard us that when, from any cause 
it becomes necessary to drop insurance, as sooner or later it will, 
ours will be the last to go. 

“So much for the relations of the field man to the company as 
such and to the policy holders which it protects. Now, a word as to 
your relations to' competing companies and their representatives. 
Time was, and not so very long ago, when a competitor in any 
business was regarded as an enemy. The old saying ‘that all is 
fair in love and war’ was extended to include business of practically 
every kind, and the putting up of a new sign in any line was an 
open challenge to combat. Happily that condition is passing away 
and it may very truthfully be said that it was never as pronounced 
in the case of the Millers Mutuals as in many other kinds of busi¬ 
ness. 


THE FIELD MAN 


3 


“Your Field Men’s Association has, I think, helped to eliminate 
many of the unethical practices which formerly obtained. Asso¬ 
ciating with the representatives of the other Companies in your 
meetings, and a closer personal acquaintance with each other has 
removed some unfavorable preconceived notions, and helped ma¬ 
terially to reduce to the minimum a spirit of antagonism and retal¬ 
iation that it is desirable should be continued until the vanishing 
point is reached. Loyalty to one’s own Company does not necessar¬ 
ily imply hostility to all other Companies of the same class. 

“An intense eagerness to secure all the business for us that you 
can legitimately obtain is not irreconcilable with a spirit of fairness 
towards another company and its representative whose right to can¬ 
vass the field is equal to your own. 

“That the ‘world is wide and the picking good’ may be as true 
now as when first uttered, as to the width of the world, but that the 
picking is good in our field of mutual endeavor, may, I think, be 
open to question. All the more reason then, where the fruit is a 
short crop and the pickers numerous, that care be exercised in the 
harvest, and the rights of all to a share be respected. Don’t 
club another fellow’s tree; it only provokes an attack in kind on 
yours, and even though you get a share of the fruit it’s bad for 
the tree, and what you gain today you lose tomorrow, coming out 
even or behind in the end and putting you in the attitude of 
always being on the defensive to protect your own, and watching 
for an opportunity to attack your competitor—a warfare without 
a single commendable feature to justify it. It does not promote 
co-operation in the betterment of a risk through joint require¬ 
ments, but tends to laxness in this regard, creating in the mind of 
the assured, a disposition to use this unseemly rivalry between his 
companies, to play one against the other in order to secure a per¬ 
sonal advantage, which with a fair regard for the mutuality of his 
contract and the character of his risk, he is not entitled to. 

“Now again, this view of your relations to your competitors 
that I am expressing, and the caution I am giving, is not to be un¬ 
derstood as showing a disposition on my part to have you rob 
Moses of an enduring reputation as the meekest man, nor is it say¬ 
ing we shouldn’t be just to ourselves before we are generous to our 
neighbors. Neither is it to afford an excuse for taking a back seat 
and allowing the other fellow to walk off with everything in sight. 

“On the contrary, I appeal to you for increased watchfulness 
and a growing eagerness to keep in touch with every opportunity 
to increase our business, being always on the alert, and the first 
man there, when more insurance is asked for or a new business 
is on the market. 

“Let it be a fair fight. If through our own negligence or lack of 
sufficient notice, or through favoritism of the assured, our com¬ 
petitor is there ahead of us, through no sharp practice of his own, 
say or do nothing that you would not wish him to do if the 
situation were reversed. It is a perfectly safe rule, and if you will 
observe it you will go a long way toward making doubtful prac¬ 
tices obsolete in our business, for not for long will they prevail 
where the other fellow has to be entirely depended upon to keep 
them alive.” 


4 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


There are many important lessons to be learned from the above 
discussion. There is one in particular, of such preeminent import¬ 
ance that it cannot be too strongly impressed. 

We refer to the “Do it now or we cancel” attitude sometimes 
adopted towards the assured. Just remember that anybody, even 
an imbecile, can cancel insurance, but that it takes brains and 
hard work to hold and improve risks, and maintain the good will of 
the assured. Strive to have the assured make improvements because 
he realizes and understands they are for his own good, rather than 
to have him do them simply because you say so. The importance 
of this point and how it is regarded by the assured, is set forth by 
Mr. Gordon of the International Milling Company, in his paper 
presented before the Field Men’s Association at their 1920 meeting 
in Minneapolis quoted as follows: 

“I am to speak to you today on fire protection. As my audience 
is to be made up of field men from a well developed and highly 
specialized body of experts for a fire insurance combination, and 
as I am not in that line of business, the object of asking me here 
to speak to you must be other than to give technical information to 
you in your specialized line. 

“I will try to give you my impressions of how you may be of 
better service to the owners with the object of fire prevention al¬ 
ways in mind. 

“Fire Protection is far from an exact science. We have few 
specifics as remedies for the ills that befall us from the many angles 
they come at us. The Sprinkler system is, I think, considered the 
best retardant, and it has many drawbacks and like the famous 
surgeon, only to be called on as a last resort. We all prefer to 
get along with our family physician^ doctoring alone, putting off the 
evil day when the dread disease will get hold of our vitals. You 
field men are our family physicians of our plants. You call unon 
us and take our temperature, open our mouths and pass judg¬ 
ment on our inner workings—leaving a prescription which costs 
us many thoughtful hours and we would be glad if we could be 
spared the nausea your medicine brings us. 

“The prescription is the thing that is in my mind to speak of 
today. It is the most important part of your inspection. It should 
be filled with the best drugs and taken as directed. It is above 
all doubt necessary that it be the correct and the best remedy. 

“The insurance inspector has been in the field for a number of 
years, making a splendid record. He goes about his business when 
in our plants with a simple directness that compels the respect of 
the organization. He goes from department to department with 
only his own business in mind. There is no gossip in his make¬ 
up. There is nothing about him that calls for criticism from the 
superintendent. The management reads his reports with close atten¬ 
tion and passes them on to their superintendents to carry out the 
recommendations. So far all is well, but if these recommendations 
are impractical and expensive and are not found workable, they are 
an abomination. They will be allowed to lag in execution, and the 
hazard will still be a menace to the life of the plant. 

“In short, you must not only point out the source of danger 
but you must also suggest a simple remedy—a remedy that is with¬ 
in the reach of and available for the particular plant. 


THE FIELD MAN 


b 


If you fail in this, you are not a success as a field man from 
the owner’s point of view. You are not going to bring up the fire 
hazard s standard, you are not going to retain the respect and stand¬ 
ing you now enjoy. 

I have said there are few specifics for fire protection—sprink¬ 
lers being the best—and that remedy almost as bad as the disease. 
Fortunately, it is being recognized that fires come from a cause 
and that these causes are evident to a keen observer. You field 
men must he given credit for the growing realization of this fact. 
It is you who have located the causes and pointed out the effect. 
This fact is fully recognized, but we are not satisfied to stop there. 
We want to know the remedy. It must have a money value in 
order to bring it to the financial vision of the owners. We are 
in this business for the money that is in it. We are willing to pro¬ 
tect it if it will pay us. We know it will pay us if all owners will 
bring their plants up to standard. That standard is to be worked 
out by you. Some owners are doing it. They should get credit for 
it but the fellow who allows his plant to run down and takes the 
chances, should pay for it, and that immediately. 

“The field man must be a man of immense energy and keen for 
details. The workmen of today to whom we look for results in our 
plant—many of them—are not what they used to be. They are 
more concerned about the hours they are paid for than the character 
of work they are being paid to perform. There must be a sharp 
lookout on your part for the fire hazard from these sources. It is 
a subtle menace and hard to gauge. It appears at its worst when 
alterations or changes are made in the buildings or machinery. It 
is growing worse every year. The operators and owners find it 
hard to cope with and nothing can be taken for granted that has 
not been actually seen and tested. Flour Mills and Elevators are 
particularly susceptible to it because of the nature of the material 
and machinery required, both of which are inflammable, but the 
protection of either from fire adds nothing to the quality of the 
product and often adds to its cost. 

“This last fact renders it more difficult. You can design a 
fireproof warehouse, the more substantial and safe it is as a fire 
risk, the more valuable it is. If you apply the same method to a 
flour mill, you would fail and in the end have neither a mill nor a 
warehouse. I will not take the time to explain why this is, since 
many of you already know that a mill requires many changes. 
Changes are necessary and they are made for a good purpose, but 
that purpose is not fire protection, at least, not until after the ar¬ 
rival of the field man. Let us hope that he is wise and competent, 
energetic and keen to see where the fire hazard lies. It requires a 
strong and forceful man to show up his side of the case and ob¬ 
tain immediate action on the part of the operator to make such 
changes as will adequately provide protection. 

“Not that the owners and operators are opposed to such changes. 
They are not, provided they can obtain results. Their object is to 
improve the quality of their output and they have strong ideas and 
know just what they want, and when they are confronted with an 
obstacle, such as the field men usually bring forth they see red 
immediately. They don’t want to be deprived of the service of their 
plant. If shown how they can continue to manufacture, and at 
the same time protect their property they will be ready to com¬ 
ply sooner or later, depending on the ability of the field man to 
make himself clear and forceful.’’ 













•* 



* 









CHAPTER II 
FLOUR MILLS 



FLOUR MILLS 


11 


CHAPTER II. 

FLOUR MILLS 

THE EliOUR MILL. 

Foreword by Mr. M. A. Reynolds, Secretary Millers National In¬ 
surance Company, President Mutual Fire PreYention 

Bureau. 

The grain elevator, discussed in detail in Chapter III, is a com¬ 
paratively modern device; but the mill that converts the grain into 
flour is as old as civilization. 

The American flour mill and its next of kin in manufacturing 
enterprises—the saw mill—hold important places in the settle¬ 
ment and development of the country. Universally water driven in 
the early , days, it was dependent for a site upon an adequate and 
dependable water power, hence not infrequently marked the perma¬ 
nent location, and formed the nucleus of the settlements founded by 
the pioneers who followed the water courses back into the interior 
from their landing places on the coast. 

The flour mill of colonial days was primitive and simple to a 
degree, compared with what answers to the name today. It con¬ 
sisted principally of a run of stone, a stand of elevators to carry 
the “chop* to a six sided bolting reel, often 20 feet or mere in 
length, clothed with different grades of bolting cloth, fine at the 
head and increasing in size of mesh to the tail with a shake-down 
slide to admit of the bolted material being dropped into a trough 
below, while the bran went “over the tail” into a bag placed there 
to receive it, or, before the days of ground feeds, into the race. The 
separation of the flour, fine and coarse middlings was made by the 
miller with a scoop in the trough underneath the reel, the quality 
of each depending on whether the owner of the grist wanted a 
superior grade of flour and rich feed or the reverse. 

This outfit constituted a unit and to increase capacity was 
simply to duplicate units until the limit of power or the wants of 
the community were reached. 

The separator and smutter were not yet in use and the grist was 
ground as it came from the farmer who may have winnowed it in 
a vagrant breeze, or cleaned it by hand with a fan or bellows. 

Few if any receiving elevators were in use to take the grain 
from the wagon to the mill, the unloading being accomplished by 
hoisting the grain in bags to the second floor or loft with a windlass, 
or carrying it on the back, the miller dumping it into the hopper 
over the stone as required to keep it properly fed. 

In later days as the flour mill lost its local community aspect, 
ceasing to be a grist mill only and expanding into the merchant 
mill class, not only grinding for local needs, but for sale in distant 
markets, improvements were slowly added to the simple unit al¬ 
ready described. 

However, the process of making flour was but little changed 
from the earliest times by these improvements. The reduction of 
the grain was still made in one operation by the mill stone, im¬ 
proved somewhat in quality and manner of dressing. The separa¬ 
tions were still made on the hexagon reel, clothed perhaps with a 
better quality of cloth. The grading of the finished product was 
automatic instead of manual without involving any change in the 
underlying principles that had governed for unnumbered years. 


12 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


These conditions continued down to the middle seventies of the 
last century. Then the revolution in milling began and has con¬ 
tinued almost uninterruptedly until the present time, so completely 
changing the equipment and process by which flour is made that 
it is doubtful if any other industry of equal importance has passed 
through a similar experience. The invention of the Bessemer proc¬ 
ess in steel making, and what grew' out of it in the iron industry, 
is the nearest approach. 

The invention and introduction into use of the middlings puri¬ 
fier, was the first step in the revolution. 

To undertake to give credit to the man who first conceived the 
principles involved, and practically applied them, and to name the 
mill or the town where the first successful demonstration was 
made, would be opening a controversy which for years has involved 
endless discussion without settling the question beyond dispute. 
Neither would it be profitable to go into details about the almost 
innumerable changes that have followed its introduction, many of 
which and the machines that came with them, have long since be¬ 
come obsolete and are only to be found in the oldest and most un¬ 
progressive plants. 

The occasional veteran miller with the pick marks on his 
hands, who may be still found holding down a job in an up-to-date 
mill will, if time permits, and you know how to draw Him out, 
give you an interesting hour from his wealth of experience, about 
his first contact with the “new fangled machine;” how he had to 
build a big dust room with an outside vent to take care of the dust 
from the purifier, and change the “dress” of his wheat buhr 
(which before had reduced the grain in one operation, making as 
few middlings as possible) so as to be able to “grind high,” making 
a broad bran and all the middlings he could, to give the purifier its 
work to do in producing a whiter and better flour. He will, if he 
chanced to be working in a mill where the experiment was being 
made with the least possible change, tell you how the purifier mid¬ 
dlings were spouted to the “eye of the stone” and ground again with 
the wheat, a very crude method which did not last long, for while 
the flour was improved, the bran was too rich, there was no re¬ 
duction of germ and the continued increase “returns” caused by 
the effort to make a better clean-up gave endless trouble. He 
will tell you that this trouble was partially cured by adding an¬ 
other run of stone with a different “dress” for grinding middlings 
only, and another chest of reels to bolt the chop, the finished 
product then, as now, being called “patent” or “high patent” flour. 
He will complain that the tail of the mill was still too rich, and 
how an attempt was made to cure this by putting in a stand of rolls, 
half scratch and half smooth, to clean the bran and reduce the 
germ. If he dwells too long on the different makes of purifiers, 
middling stones, stone dressers, and dresses for stones that came to 
vex him in making a choice, the hour will be gone before he can 
tell you how he again solved his problems by smothering his prej¬ 
udices and yielding to the trend of the times at great cost to his 
pride and his pocket-booh, by discarding all of his mill stones, ex¬ 
cept perhaps one run on middlings and one on chop feed, and sub¬ 
stituting the chilled iron roll, the machine which marks the record 
step of the revolution in milling, then loudly bidding for favor 
through a half dozen different makers, every one an experiment; 


FLOUR 1 MILLS 


13 


cutting down his 20 foot reels to 10 or 12 feet and retaining all he 
could use of the rest of his outfit, throwing the remainder into the 
tail race or burning it under the boiler; all ending in making him 
the more or less unhappy possessor of a “full roller” gradual re¬ 
duction, new process flour mill. 

But his troubles did not end there, for he was confronted with 
new and improved separators, smutters (or scourers as they now 
began to be called) of horizontal or upright type; bran dusters, also 
upright or horizontal; centrifugal reels, magnetic separators, wheat 
steamers and heaters, reel scalpers and sieve scalpers, dust col¬ 
lectors that did not collect at all and some that did fairly well, 
choke feeders, automatic feeds for rolls, and rolls for grinding 
feed of the “three high” and “two to three pair high” tyues, and 
various other things he may not recall. 

He will tell you that these were the minor details the adoption 
of which, in whole or in part, marked the “progressive miller” and 
stimulated the inventor to new efforts, thereby keeping up the 
interest and advancing the art of flour making, but the end was 
not yet. The hexagon reel, singly or in “chests” of two to six 
reels, which as before stated had come down from early days 
unchanged in principle and but little changed in construction, 
was the accepted method of making the separations incident to 
flour making and while for some special purpose it had been 
supplanted by the centrifugal reel or the round reel, was still 
the back-bone of the bolting system until the invention and suc¬ 
cessful introduction of the horizontal or sieve bolter which, in one 
form or another under different names, is the recognized stand¬ 
ard bolting equipment of the up-to-date mill of today. 

This marked the third radical change from old time prac¬ 
tice, and completed the revolution which had been in progress 
for many years, resulting finally in standardizing equipment and 
process of manufacture after hundreds of dollars spent in ex¬ 
perimenting, until the modern mill of today of a given capacity, 
and grinding the same varieties of wheat, is as near a duplicate 
of every other as were the best mills of pre-revolution days. 

These changes in process and equipment involving a large 
increase in fast running and complicated machinery, naturally in¬ 
creased the fire hazard over the more simple, slow running old 
style mill. To this must be added the modern hazard of electric¬ 
ity in the various forms that it may be used; and in the less modern 
of present day mills an additional hazard is encountered, caused 
by over crowding and badly placed machinery making it neces¬ 
sary to duplicate elevating and conveying equipment due to in¬ 
creasing the capacity of the mill by adding new machinery from 
time to time without increasing the size of the building. 

It follows that the average flour mill of today, excluding the 
comparatively few concrete fire resistive and sprinklered plants, 
lacks much of being an ideal fire risk from the physical point of 
view, while, like all other insurable property, it is subject to 
that insidious, intangible enemy, known as the “moral hazard.” 

The flour mill inspector having no knowledge of the milling 
business will, though ever so good an insurance man, be consider¬ 
ably handicapped and greatly confused when he makes the first 


14 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


round of the territory assigned him and visits the older mills which 
have come up through and survived the revolution and are still 
gallantly holding their own with their most modern neighbors in 
quality of product and ability to compete, until he is familiar with 
the evolution through which these older mills have passed. While 
all are producing substantially the same results, no two of them 
will be found alike in kind, location and arrangements of equip¬ 
ment, or in the method of handling the raw material or caring 
for the finished product. 

If variety is the spice of life, the inspection of the older mills 
should tend to dispel dullness and inspire zest and relish for the 
work, for variety is a pronounced characteristic of the class, and 
it is only by personal contact, with an open eye, questioning tongue 
and eager ear, that the knowledge required to determine the gen¬ 
eral and relative character of the plant, measure its hazards, detect 
defects and suggest improvements can be fully acquired. 

The value of personal contact and acquired experience applies 
to the inspection of all risks, new or old, and the ability to classify 
them as good, indifferent, bad or hopeless, and give intelligent 
reasons for the class you give them, and a definite opinion as to 
what may be necessary in the way of improvement, is not to' be 
obtained by oral instruction or the reading of books, although both 
will be of great service to that end. What follows, and the coaching 
that will be given, is designed to equip the inspector with that theo¬ 
retical knowledge which, added to the experience which personal 
contact with the risk involved, will make possible its practical ap¬ 
plication. 


SURVEYS AND INSPECTIONS. 

FLOUR MILLS. 

The work of the field man in connection with Flour Mills, di¬ 
vides itself logically into two main divisions—Surveys and Inspec¬ 
tion Reports. 

Webster defines Survey in connection with insurance as: “1—An 
examination and description of condition, location and mode of 
use of property to be insured. 2—The report of result of such ex¬ 
amination.” 

From the standpoint of the office Underwriter, the second is as 
fully important as the first. 

An inspection report is a supplement to the survey, made per¬ 
iodically, setting forth the condition aifecting the physical and 
moral hazards, as they may vary from time to time. 

SURVEYS. 

The survey should contain data so arranged as to give the 
reader (particularly the office underwriter) a diagraphic and mental 
picture of the risk, together with your conclusions regarding 
same. 

It should contain sufficient information concerning the con¬ 
struction to enable an experienced person to make a fairly ac¬ 
curate valuation of the property, even though totally destroyed. 

Accurate rating of the risk should be possible from the sur¬ 
vey. ^ The following is a statement of the most logical method of 
obtaining and presenting the necessary information, to accomplish 
the above mentioned result. 


FLOUR MILLS 


15 


First page of survey: 

The first page of survey should be a diagram of the ground plan 
of the property, setting forth by proper symbols, the characteristics 
that enter into underwriting, and if desired, an isometric sketch. 
Such a diagram is given in Figures 1 and 2, followed by an explana¬ 
tion of the symbols used (Figures 3 and 4). These symbols are 
those adopted by the Underwriters Uniformity Association and are 
standard for all inspection and survey Bureaus. The only change 
is that green has been adopted for metal, such as metal roofs, clad¬ 
ding, tanks, etc., since gray is a neutral color and does not show up 
well in our work. A list of the colors adopted is as follows: 

Red—Brick. 

Blue—Stone or concrete, not fire resistive. 

Yellow—Frame. 

Brown—Fire Resistive. 

Green—Metal 

Grey—Composition or Gravel. 

Purple—Tile or slate. 

Yellow—With Green border, Frame Iron-clad. 

Other combinations accordingly. 

Exposures—Dotted and colored in outline. 

The field man should avoid details on his diagram not perti¬ 
nent to the underwriting of the risk, but necessary features should 
not be omitted. A tendency is noted on the part of some, to clutter 
up the diagram with descriptive matter, that should be on another 
sheet of the report. This is confusing, and often times the features 
described are of a temporary nature that throws the diagram out of 
date much quicker than otherwise would be the case. A worth while 
diagram requires considerable work, and should be made so that it 
is not necessary to repeat it, unless structural changes make a new 
one necessary. 

If an isometric is not made, and it is desired to show some 
particular feature, this can often be done by an elevation of a por¬ 
tion of the risk. 

Second page of survey: 

After an examination of the diagram, the office underwriter 
will then want to know the conclusions that you have derived from 
your examination of the property. The second sheet of your report 
should set forth briefly your recommendations as to the desirability 
of the risk, total amount of insurance recommended, amount 
recommended for your company, and rate. 

Following this should be all obtainable information regarding 
present title, encumbrance, moral and financial standing of owners 
or lessees, fire record of risk and operators, present and probable 
future business conditions. If other than straight flour mill busi¬ 
ness, details as to' processes and hazards should be given. 

Third page of survey: 

BUILDINGS:—Give a brief statement of the construction of the 
buildings, followed by the detailed construction data, listing the 
buildings in the logical order of their importance or location. 


16 


THE PIELDMEN’S MANUAL 



•jt£» PMA/yg 





























FLOUR MILLS 


17 























































































18 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


Plan Notations 

Fire Underwriters Uniformity Association 



CO I.ORS 

w 



4 


1. Yellow: Wooden walls. Red: Brick 
walla. Bine: Stone or concrete walla. 
Gray: Iron walla. Brown: Fire- 

8 roof construction. 

rown, Mottled: Reinforced con¬ 
crete construction. If hollow block 
concrete, so mark. 


3. When walls are not of a single 
material, use the proper colon in 
combination. Exposure: Color in 
outline. Wood platforms: Cross 
hatch in yellow. 

4. Watercourses: Light blue. 


1 4 BA. ! 



CORNICES, Q.OOFS, ETC. 

ok - — -U 6 


__ 7 





m__jw 


1. 4-Story Bsmt. and Attic in height. 

2. Height of Bldg, in feet. 

3. Composition Roof. 

4. Metal, Tile or Slate-Roof. 

5. Shinglo Roof. 

8 . Non-combustible Cornice. 


7. Wood Cornice. 

8. French Roof. 

9. Driveway on first floor. 

10. Skylight, W.N. for wire net, W.G- 
for wire glass. 

11. Light Well, 2 Stories. 


x; 


c sx 

d X, 


' 1. 


WALLS ANCTWALLOPENINGS Inn 



6—-*-7 

8 -r —3 


1. a. Window and Non-etd. Shutter (1 Sto.) 

b. Windows and Std. Shutters (2 Sto.) 

c. Non-etd. Wire Glass Windows (3 Sto.) 

d. Standard Wire Glass Windows. 

e. Protected Windows, 1st and 3rd. 

4th. Unprotected. 3rd. No opening. 

Dot represents openings counting from left to right 
lookingtowards building. 

2. Light line: Wooden wall. 


8. Heavy line: Brick, Stone, etc. 

4 and 5. Walls not complete to roof. 
(Number of floors pierced to be 
noted.) 


6. Parapet wall. One line for each 
■ 6 in. parapet. 

7. Unprotected wall opening. 

8. Standard Fire Door. 

9. Non-Standard Fire Door. 



SECTION SIGNS 


Waul 

Openings 



Floor Construction: 

a. Roof, open Joist, b. Line of eaves, c. Sheathed 
floor and Wall. d. Plank and Timber, <ff 
Mill Const, floor, e. Brick Arch floor. /. Fhw 
Proof floor. 

Wall openings: 

1. Parapet Wall. 

2. Standard Fire Door on one aide, Non-standard 

on other side. 

3. Unprotected Opening. 

4. Thickness of wall in inches. 


FLOOR OPENINGS 


□xB,EUEU&ia 


»-3 

s;*v» 

7 8 


1-. Open Hoist or Dumb Waiter. 

2. Trapped Hoistway. 

3. Enclosed Hoistway. 

4. Open Elevator. 


5. Trapped Elevator. 

6. Enclosed Elevator. 

7. Elevator in brick shaft. 

8. Elevator 1st to 3rd floor. 


Figure 3. 

Bureau Standard 7 9^. 






















































FLOUR MILLS 

Insurance, Fire, Plan Notations; Uniform Key 


1 


STAIRS 




1. Open Stairs. 3. Stairs in brick well. (Usual sign if.parapeted ' 

2. Enclosed Stairs. 4. Stairs Bsmt. to 1st floor. 



1. Stable D-Dwelling S-Store. 

2. Open Sheds. 

3. Platform, also Bridge or Tunne 
if so labeled. 

4. Property Line. 

5. Underground Gasoline Tank. 

6. Fence. 

7. Grade above sea-level (Ft.) 

8. Width of Street (Ft.) 


9. Street Number. 

10. Boiler not bricked in. 

11. Boiler bricked in. 

12. Vertical Boiler. 

13. Iron Stack 60 ft. high. 

14. Brick Chimney. 

15. Fire Alarm Box. 

16. Engine. 

17. Dynamo. 

18. Motor. 



1. Water Pipe buried. 

2. Water Pipe exposed. 

3. Suction Pipe. 

4. Foot Valve and Strainer. 

5. Non-frost-proof Hydt. (1 way). 

6. Frost-proof Private Hydt. (2 way). 

7. Public (2 way) Hydt. with Steamer 
Connection. 

8. Public Ch” <£ or Flush Hydt. 

[9. Priv. (4 way) Hydt. with indc- 
V , pendent Valves and Hose House. 

10. Vertical or Stand Pipe. 

11. Hose Connection on Pipe. 

12. Automatic Sprinkler Riser. 

13. Open Sprinkler Riser. 

14. Open Sprinklers. 

15. Underground Valve requiring key 
to open. 

16. Ordinary Gate Valve. 

17. Globe Valve. 

18. Indicator Valve. 

19. Post Indicator Valve. 


20. Check Valve (water flows in di¬ 
rection of arrow). 

21. Check Valve with Alarm Attach¬ 
ment. 

22. Alarm Valve. 

23. Alarm Gong with Hood. 

24. Dry Pipe Valve. 

25. Siamese Steamer Connection. 

26. Steam Fire Pump with Hose Con¬ 
nections. 

27. Rotary or Centrifugal Pump. 

28. Spkr. Gravity Tank on plan. 

29. Sprinkler Pressure Tank. 

30. Automatic Sprinklers. 

31. Perforated Pipe Sprinklers. 

32. Spkr. Gravity Tank on section 
..Gal. Cap., .. Ft. Above. 

33. Cotton, Rubber Lined (hose). 

34. Fire Escape. 

35*. Water Meter. 

36. Valve in Pit. 


Figure 4 . 

Bureau Standard 79 //. 


19 




























































































20 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


EXAMPLE. 

Mill Building: 

Four stories and basement, brick open joist construction, stone 
foundation, composition roof, 40'x60'x65' basement floor to plate 
and 12' higher to peak. 

The floor heights are: 

Basement 9' high. 

1st floor 12' high. 

2nd floor 14' high. 

3rd floor 14' high. 

4th floor 16' high to plate and 12' higher to peak. 

The construction is: Basement—concrete floor; foundation 24" 
field stone; beams 12"xl4" lateral 12'; 12"xl4" posts 13'. 

1st floor—22" brick wall; beams and posts 12"xl2" same spacing 
as below: 3"xl2" floor joists 16"; flooring 1x3 matched maple over 
l"x6" rough. 

Treat the other floors in the same manner; since the figures for 
volume are taken from basement floor to eaves, your main dimen¬ 
sions should be so given. If no basement, give from top of founda¬ 
tion to eaves. 

It is also proper to mention under this heading, any features 
of construction that are difficult to show on the diagram, and which 
may influence the rate or the judgment of an underwriter. 

Machinery. 

The location of the machinery list in your report is not es¬ 
pecially important, but some logical method should be adopted. In 
starting on the buildings, the logical place to start is at the 
bottom. Completion of this portion of the work brings the inspector 
to the top floor or Texas. It is therefore logical to start at the 
top, and list the machinery as he goes down. The machinery list 
may follow the buildings in the report. Each individual machine 
should be listed by size, number, capacity, or in case of old equip¬ 
ment from which the number has been eliminated, by dimensions of 
the machines themselves. In the case of equipment that is so old 
that it is no longer on the market, its capacity should be ob¬ 
tained, so that a modern machine of the same capacity may be 
priced in its place, and a depreciation deducted for obsolescence. 
Since the object of the machinery list is primarily for valuation 
purposes, it is absolutely essential that the above data be obtained. 

Boilers should be listed by horse power, working pressure, type, 
such as horizontal, vertical, water tube or fire tube, and in the case 
of such boilers as Heine or Sterling, the name should always be 
given. The name is desirable in any event, in case data or prices 
need to be obtained from the maker. 

Engines should be listed as horizontal or vertical, simple or 
compound (if compound, whether tandem or cross compound), 
slide or corliss valves. Some engines will have special construc¬ 
tion peculiar to that make only, such as Uniflow engines, which 
should be noted. 

ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT. 

In listing electrical equipment, always give the voltage, phase 
and frequency (number of cycles) of the current. It is better 
to give also the serial number of the apparatus, since this number 
must be known, if anything is to be referred to the factory. To 


FLOUR MILLS 


21 


be sure, it is a good thing to give the full name plate rating of the 
motor, oil switch, starter or other apparatus. In listing motors, 
the speed is important in determining price, since an 1800 RPM 
Motor costs roughly 60% of the price of a 600 RPM Motor. Use 
special Bureau Electric Report if desired. 

HAZARDS. 

HEAT—Give Type of heating equipment, and existing hazards. 
See Article on Heating Equipment. 

LIGHT—-Electric—This subject is fully covered in the Mutual 
Code governing Electrical Installations, and the heading “How to 
Make an Electrical Inspection.” 

POWER—'Electric—The inspection should be made and reported 
as outlined under “How to Make an Electrical Inspection.” The 
use of electric power is increasing very rapidly, and the inspector 
should ascertain if the miller expects to install motors or electric 
equipment soon, and report the fact to his home office, so that the 
proper specifications may be furnished the assured, and a safe 
installation made. 

STEAM—The principal hazards of the steam power installation 
to be examined and reported are clearance of stack through the 
roof (if metal stack), clearance from breeching, kind of fuel used, 
and place and manner of storing same. Where cobs and dust 
are conveyed or spouted into the boiler room for burning, special 
fire-resistive construction of conveyors, spouts and automatic cut¬ 
offs must be used, if the practice is permitted. Standard cob 
house is covered under POWER EXCEPT ELECTRIC. Since the 
construction of the power house influences the rate, careful note 
of division walls, protection of openings and roof construction 
should be made. 

EXPOSURE. 

Exposing risks should be shown on diagram, if located and 
of such a character or occupancy as to affect the rate. If there 
is any question, the exposure should always be shown. Give main 
dimensions, construction and occupancy of exposures. They should 
be shown dotted on diagram, colored in outline. Recommend wire 
glass windows, etc. 

SPECIAL. 

List and explain the hazards of any special machines or pro¬ 
cesses such as molasses feeds, barley mills, corn and oat flaking 
rolls, etc. Under this head would come drying or baking ovens 
not in laboratories, and other processes peculiar to feed and 
cereal mills. The office underwriter determines the desirability 
of risks other than straight flour mills, from the extent and manner 
of handling the special hazards and they should be covered fully 
but concisely. 

PROTECTION. 

See “INTERIOR FIRE PROTECTION.” 

Ascertain if any one man is personally responsible for the 
maintenance of the interior fire protection. A simple equipment, 
in working order, is superior to an elaborate equipment in poor 
condition. See PRIVATE FIRE BRIGADES for suggestions along 

this line. 


22 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


The report should cover the kind, amount and distribution of 
the fire fighting equipment. 

The diagram or report should show the nearest fire depart¬ 
ment, if any, all hydrants within 300 feet, as well as some idea of 
the public water supply, as to direct pump or gravity supply, 
normal and fire pressure, full paid, part paid or volunteer depart¬ 
ment. 

Check up watchman’s service as given under “WATCHMAN’S 
SERVICE.” 

PRESENT INSURANCE. 

List the present insurance, showing the information desired 
by your home office. The data usually desired is, form under 
which insurance is written, name of Company, date of expiration 
of policy, amount and rate. It is not usually considered necessary 
to list Stock Company policies, simply giving the amounts m 
such Companies. 

List of Insurance in Force and Date of Expiration. 


1 

Company 

Policy 

No. 

1 

Amount 

1 

j 

Expires 

Rnilrlino- 

Maeli- 

1 

Pnwpr 

S took 

r\aie 

1 

Day 

Mo. 

Year 



iner 1 

y 




— 




-1 

■ j 
















1 

_ 








— 







l 






















— 






1 

| 














1 

1 















I 

I 














1 

1 

1 

1 





1 


1 1 


VALUATION. 

The summary of your valuation should be set forth in some 
such manner as outlined below: 


Item 


Appraisals 

OUR VALUATION 

V_/Wile 

Valua 

tion 

Summa 

LtCU 

LTy 

First C 

:ost 1 

Dep. | 

Sound 

Val. 

Ins. Li 

imit 













































1 













1 

1 













1 

1 

















1 












1 1 1 1 

l 

1 















































































FLOUR MILLS 


23 


The details and manner of figuring the valuation may be 
gone into as much as desired by the office Underwriter. It is 
desirable to preserve the figures, so that, at any future time the 
values and manner of figuring them may be checked. Where figures 
are based on quantities of material and labor, and these are filed, 
it is very easy to figure the new values at any time, by using the 
correct prices for that date. The principal work is in figuring 
the quantities which do not change for any given building. 

This subject is covered in considerable detail in the chapter 
on “VALUATIONS.” 

RATES. 

The make up of the rate should be given in detail, so that 
it may be checked and the rates revised at any future time, with¬ 
out completely refiguring them. The space, normally left for this 
purpose on the outside of the report blank, is not usually suffi¬ 
cient, and the rating should be placed in the body of the report, 
with a summary of the rates on the outside, if desired. 

INSPECTION REPORTS. 

There are many ways to go about making an inspection, and 
there is not any set way, but the inspector should be sure that 
the order that is adopted by him, insures a thorough inspection. 
The usual way is to go to the top of the mill and work down 
through, noting the defects from the texas to the sub-basement. 

Too much stress cannot be laid upon the fact that inspections, 
to be trustworthy and of value, must be thorough. The experience 
of the old inspector will almost lead him to change the old saying 
that “Things are not always what they seem” to read “Things are 
almost never what they seem.” Clothes closets and lockers, space 
back of and under benches, bins and the like, often contain serious 
hazards. 

Another important feature is the accurate setting forth of 
the defects noted. It is possible, by the wording of his report, for 
the inspector to give a fairly good risk a very black-eye. Too much 
stress laid on minor details, obscures the real heart of the report, 
and discredits the important points. Unless the remedy is appar¬ 
ent, always list it with the defects. Since the defects are supposed 
to be corrected by the assured shortly after they are reported, a 
long list of defects should never be incorporated in a survey. They 
should be kept separate. Remember that the inspection report 
is a supplement to' the survey, and the items covered vary a great 
deal from day to day, while the survey is supposed to be of a 
more permanent nature. 

The hazards involved in the heating, lighting, power and ex¬ 
posure are covered under SURVEYS. 

The following are other common causes of fire, and must be 
covered by the inspection. 

SPOUTS. 

Spouts should be kept tight and not stuffed and patched with 
burlaps, or paper, or rags. Leaky spouting means a dirty mill. 
Have them tightened up. 

SCOURERS. 

The principal element of the scourer usually consists of a 
perforated cylinder or scouring case, with rapidly revolving arms 
or beaters inside. The grain is forced by the beaters against the 


24 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


casing, and that, together with the kernels striking and rubbing 
each other, scours oft the dirt, loose fiber coat and hairy growth. 
This is drawn out through the scouring case by suction, and con¬ 
ducted to dust collectors. . .. 

The great hazard is in foreign substance coming in with the 
grain, and striking a spark on the beaters, thereby igniting the 
dust which immediately flashes to the dust collectors. There is 
also the usual bearing hazard, particularly the step bearing on 
an upright scourer. 

A pneumatic separator will take out all dangerous foreign 
material and is very desirable. The usual remedy is to install a 
magnetic separator ahead of the scourer. One or the other is 
required. 

The bearings are subject to the usual bearing troubles and 
should be inspected accordingly. Figure 36, page 126, shows 
method of blocking out bearing. 

The base of an upright scourer is hard to clean, and usually 
has more or less litter in it. If those places are filled with con¬ 
crete or other means, it helps in keeping them clean. 

SEPARATORS. 

The principal hazard of these machines is in the fan shaft 
bearings. For details, see page 122. 

WASHERS AND DRYERS. 

There is no particular hazard in a wheat washer, but there 
may be considerable hazard in the dryer used in connection with 
it. See page 121. 

PURIFIERS. 

There is very little hazard in a purifier. There may be some 
element of danger in the fan shafting and bearings, and it is 
desirable to have clearance between them and the woo'd housing. 

DUST COLLECTORS. 

The cloth dust collectors are a serious proposition. Prac¬ 
tically every hazardous machine is connected to one or more col¬ 
lectors, by a stream of dust laden air. In case of a spark or fire 
in one of these machines, the dust acts like a fuse, carrying the 
fire by a series of flashes to the dust collectors, if they are 
of cloth, they are saturated with a fine dust, making a combina¬ 
tion highly inflammable. Recommend that all cloth dust collectors 
be replaced by metal. 

Metal dust collectors should be vented to the outside or should 
be vented into a settling chamber, which is vented to the outside. 
All wind trunking should be of metal. Also see Dust Collectors, 
page 129. 

BLEACHERS. 

There are two different principles on which bleaching apparatus 
operates: 

1st: Air which has been passed through an Electric Arc in 
proper adjustment has a bleaching effect on vegetable color. In 
the Alsop process such electrically treated air is the bleaching 
agent. 

2nd: Chlorine also has a bleaching effect on vegetable color 
and is the agent used in the gas process, usually stored in tanks 
but sometimes manufactured by acid or electrolysis of salt brine. 

The principal hazard of the direct current type Alsop bleach¬ 
er is from the generator and the electric arc. 


FLOUR MILLS 


25 



Figure 5. 

Bureau Standard 795. 



















































































































26 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


The generator operates at a reasonably high voltage, and is 
of the brush type. For that reason, it must be enclosed, and the 
frame grounded, and an insulating hose inserted in the piping to 
insulate the agitators. 

The new type of Alsop bleacher known as the “Continuous Arc 
Electrifier” employs alternating current. Its arrangement is shown 
by figure 5, page 25. 

The horn gap arc is in an aluminum case and sealed. 

The transformer is immersed in oil. The secondary voltage is 
about 4,000 volts but the current is very low, about 3/10 amps. 
Since the supply of power is limited there is slight possibility of 
accidental ground or short circuit rupturing the tank. 

Twelve ampere fuses are provided with the 110 volt machine. 

Six ampere fuses are provided with the 220 volt machine. 

This apparatus does not need an enclosure. 

The following points should be insisted on by the inspector. 

1st: Grounding of the frame. 

2nd: Insulating hose. 

3rd: Proper fusing (12 amps., 110 volts; 6 amps., 220 volts). 

4th: The machine shall be wired with an individual branch 
circuit in conduit. There is a hole in the back of the fuse box for 
the conduit to enter and it should enter there. 

ELECTROLYTIC BLEACHER. 

Chlorine is generated for flour bleaching purposes by the elec¬ 
trolysis of common brine. The outfit consists of a generator gen¬ 
erating current at about 6 volts with a capacity as high as 500 
amperes. This current is passed through a vat containing a strong 
mixture of a solution of common salt. The action of the current 
causes a chemical reaction by which the sodium chloride (Na. Cl) 
combines with water (H 2 0) forming sodium hydroxide. 

The equipment presents a very little fire hazard outside of the 
hazard of the generator, which is not so severe as that of the higher 
voltage generators. The accumulation of dust on the generator and 
in the vat is very detrimental however to the operation of the equip¬ 
ment and it should therefore be in a dustless room for the good of 
the machinery. 

Bleaching apparatus, similar to the Industrial Appliance 
Process, using chlorine is not hazardous from a fire standpoint, 
but the gas is injurious, particularly to sprinkler equipment, and 
for that reason they should be preferably enclosed, particularly in 
sprinklered mills or in a dusty location. 

ROLLS. 

The principal hazards of rolls are from foreign substance 
going through them, from metal collars or cheek pieces, and from 
scrapers rubbing. 

Pneumatic or magnetic separators are required ahead of the 
mill stream, and they, together with the separators and cleaners, 
should eliminate all foreign substances. However, nails, screws, 
bolts, nuts or such material may get into the spouts any place in 
the system. The only remedy is to have a magnetic separator im¬ 
mediately ahead of the first break roll. This is often done, but is 
not required. 


FLOUR MILLS 


27 


CHEEK PIECES. 

The roll collar or cheek piece is Y-shaped, and is inserted at 
each end of the set of rolls in the V formed by them. It is to 
keep the fine stock from running over the ends. If these collars are 
metal, they may rub on the roll, heating or sparking, or they may 
even ride hard enough to break. If metal, have them replaced by 
leather or wood. 

SCRAPERS. 

The scrapers are metal strips in contact with the bottom of 
the rolls, intended to remove any stock that may cling to them. 
Sometimes they are fastened rigid with set screws, and therein lies 
the hazard. Have all rigid scrapers converted to a flexible type, 
using a counter weight to hold them against the rolls. 

Scrapers so arranged that the material rubbing on the roll 
is wood should be prohibited. Certain types of scrapers are built 
with fiber brushes or wood fiber strips held in wooden frames. 
These scrapers are not objectionable when properly maintained 
but care should be used to see that the wood is not allowed to 
contact with the roll. 

MEAL DRYERS. 

The principal hazard from a meal dryer is in the steam coils 
and sometimes in a bearing in the older types using revolving 
coils. 

A standard installation, consisting of a metal dryer having a 
choke conveyor or an all metal cooler on the discharge end is con¬ 
sidered reasonably safe, and for that reason does not take a charge. 

If an installation is not standard it takes the regular charge. 

Dryers that are partly open, give off fumes and steam, which 
are detrimental to the machinery and building, and render clean¬ 
liness impossible. For that reason, they must have a hood over 
them, as shown in figure 6, page 28. 

CLOTHES LOCKERS. 

Several fires have originated in clothes lockers, caused no 
doubt, by workmen carrying lighted pipe or cigars into the plant 
in the pockets of clothing. Metal lockers are the remedy and should 
be recommended in place of wooden lockers. 

Lockers often serve as a catch-all for all sorts of junk and re¬ 
fuse, thereby increasing the hazard. See that they are kept clean. 

DRESSING ROOMS. 

There should be a special fire resistive room or a detached club 
house for the men, where they can eat their lunch and smoke. This 
should also serve as a locker room. The clothes lockers are always 
a good indication of the discipline of the men and the caliber of the 
superintendent. 


COMMUNICATING OPENINGS. 

All openings thru fire walls should be protected by standard fire 
doors or shutters. 

All stairways, freight elevators and passenger elevators where 
feasible, should be enclosed or cut off by hatches. 

The idea is to keep the fire confined to one unit by fire stops 
and to resist its spreading in that unit, by cutting off all possible 
draft. 


28 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 



Figure 6. 

Bureau Standard 315. 

































FLOUR MILLS 


29 


GENERAL. 

The general appearance of a mill is very important. Dust on 
the machines or floor, or an accumulation of litter in the out of 
the way places, may not burn the property of themselves, but they 
are a very good indication of the care the plant is receiving. If 
these places are being neglected, you may be certain that some 
places or features which do constitute real and active fire hazards 
are being neglected as well. 

Unused wind trunks, spouting, conveyors, and elevators fill up 
with dust and chaff, and these, together with piles of litter in the 
out of the way places, are often the seat of spontaneous com¬ 
bustion. 

Dust and dirt accumulated on the beams and machinery, is an 
effective fuse, which rapidly conducts a fire to all parts of the 
plant. 

From a fire prevention and a fire protection standpoint, cleanli¬ 
ness is paramount. 

Moral Hazard. 

Moral hazard is a product of financial stress. It is sired by 
misfortune and damned by the underwriters. It exists when, by 
reason of collectible insurance, a fire from any cause is welcomed 
by the owner of the property as a God-sent blessing. 

Moral hazard may result either from the personal failure of the 
owner, or manager, to make good, or from general business condi¬ 
tions. In either case, the owner’s ability, or lack of it; his personal 
integrity, or its absence; the character for good or evil he has es¬ 
tablished for himself among his associates and the value of his es¬ 
tablished business or brands, make his plant either passably in¬ 
surable or positively uninsurable. 

Moral hazards which result from causes beyond the control of 
the individual, are called “business hazards.” For instance, the 
owner is not personally responsible for a general business depres¬ 
sion such as occurs after every period of inflation; nor for a suc¬ 
cession of crop failures; nor is he entirely responsible for the 
dwindling of his business by reason of new competition. But if he 
be far-sighted, fore-handed, energetic and resourceful, he may min¬ 
imize all these adversities and successfully weather the storm. 

Therefore, in times of general business depression, crop fail¬ 
ures, or excessive competition, when a moral hazard from business 
causes depreciates the value of the plants we insure, the inspector 
must look well to the record which the owner has established for 
himself, both personal and in a business way, previous to the de¬ 
pression. Given a high grade of personal integrity and a reasonable 
success in normal times, there is no reason apparent for withhold¬ 
ing mutual insurance protection from a person or firm who during a 
depression finds it necessary to suspend operations for a few 
months. 

A personal moral hazard attaches to a risk whose owner, or 
manager, has a constitutional moral twist. The weakling, the specu¬ 
lator, the foreflusher, the man who is looking for easy money, all 


30 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


these are the natural enemies,—the pariahs of the fire insurance 
business. They always have been and always will be a menace to 
society in general, and to the insurance business in particular. At 
the first sign of stress they are more than likely to adopt what to 
their misled judgment seems the quickest and best way out of their 
difficulties. 

A statement of business conditions and of personal moral haz¬ 
ard, if one exists, should accompany every inspection report and 
survey. 


CHAPTER III 
ELEVATORS 












ELEVATORS 


41 


CHAPTER 111. 

ELEYATORS. 

The inspection of an elevator is not so involved a process 
as is the inspection of a flour mill: but even so the elevator 
plays a very important part in our business, and should be given 
careful consideration by the field man. One who puts in a day or 
so surveying a 500 bbl. flour mill is apt to view a 15,000 bu. ele¬ 
vator as of small consequence, and pass judgment accordingly. A 
sense of proportion is a very necessary part of the equipment of 
a good inspector, as he must look at all risks, large or small, with 
an eye to its hazards. The passing up of dangerous features in a 
risk merely because its value is only a few thousand dollars is not 
only poor judgment, but it develops habits that are bound to have a 
bad effect on the work of a field man. He should, therefore, keep 
his sense of proportion, and bear in mind at all times that the in¬ 
spection of an elevator or a warehouse calls for the same attention 
to details that a mill does. 

Country elevators are commonly divided into three classes, 

viz: 

Line elevators. 

Independent elevators. 

Farmers’ or Co-Operative elevators. 

The line elevator has been classified as one operated by a com¬ 
pany owning more than ten elevators; but, strictly speaking, it is 
one of a large line of houses, say 50 to 200, operated from one of 
the leading terminal markets. The business at the country station 
is handled by local salaried managers, who have to do with the 
buying end only, and work under the supervision of traveling 
auditors or superintendents. The selling end of a line company’s 
business is handled exclusively at the head office. Many of the 
Western Milling concerns operate country elevators for the pur¬ 
pose of getting wheat supplies, and where these are supervised by 
auditors or superintendents, they come under the designation of 
line elevators. 

Independent elevators are the individual houses owned by one 
or more persons or by a corporation. A small line of elevators 
that is under the direct supervision of the owner is classified as 
independent. These houses are more numerous than any other 
class 

Co-operative or farmers elevators are owned by stock com¬ 
panies composed chiefly of farmers. Business men of the town in 
which the elevators are located, however, are often stockholders. 
The terms “co-operative” and “farmers” while still used inter¬ 
changeably, are no longer synonymous; the former, strictly speak¬ 
ing, referring to those elevators operated under the plan of pay¬ 
ing a limited dividend on the capital stock, and dividing the re¬ 
mainder of the profits among the patrons of the house; while 
“farmers” elevators are those in which all profits go to the stock¬ 
holders. 

Line elevator business is not much sought after by our Mutual 
Companies for the reason that the houses are operated by salaried 
managers and are not under the direct supervision of the owner. 
It is obvious that such houses are not given the care and attention 
that we require under our system. At one time line houses were 


42 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


the controlling factor in the country grain business in the Western 
country; but with the rapid growth of the co-operative and farm¬ 
ers elevators, they are being broken up and sold to independents 
and farmer companies. In the Northwest, however, the line house 
is still a factor in the grain business, and especially so, the lines 
operated by milling concerns. 

The growth of the farmers elevator movement has also had 
its effect on the independent house; but as in all business where 
competition is keen, it has meant only the elimination of that class 
of grain buyers who lacked experience or were operating with in¬ 
sufficient capital. The independent man with sufficient capital, a 
knowledge of his business, and a desire to serve the community can 
hold his own in the grain business, as well as in any other line. In 
fact, it will be found that the keen independent buyer is still one 
of the most successful men in the business. Therefore, in passing 
on this class of risks, the calibre of the owner should be the first 
thing to take into consideration. 

The farmers or co-operative house, if properly managed, is al¬ 
most certain of success. It generally gets the bulk of the grain 
that comes to the station, and if the business is in control of a man¬ 
ager, who is properly trained in marketing, he can make a profit for 
the company, but management is everything with this class of house, 
and the inspector should, therefore, go into this phase of the busi¬ 
ness carefully. But he should not take a failure to make money in 
any one year too seriously. A company composed of a hundred or 
more farmers can stand a fairly good loss without injuring them 
seriously. Where this condition exists he should investigate it thor¬ 
oughly and ascertain just what is being done to overcome it. A 
change in managers may solve the problem. 

THE APPROACH. 

When you walk into an elevator and introduce yourself to the 
manager, he may have some question of insurance or rate that is 
bothering him. If so, he will not hesitate to broach it and he will 
expect you to answer it at once and intelligently. To do that, you 
must have some knowledge of his property and the insurance ap¬ 
plying, provided your companies are carrying it. Most of the In¬ 
surance Companies provide their inspectors with a field book, con¬ 
taining a list of insurance in force in their territory, with the rate 
and other special useful information. Study this before approach¬ 
ing your man. You then know as much or more about his in¬ 
surance as the manager himself, but you do not know much about 
the risk. To get a general idea of it, take a good look around as 
you approach. Perhaps the siding is loose and needs painting, 
or if it is an iron clad house the cladding is loose or rusted thru. 
Some of the window lights are broken and the opening plugged with 
burlap and there are no screens. The house is racked out of 
plumb, showing signs of poor foundation or unequal loading. Be 
sure to examine the foundation later. As you approach the house, 
note the condition of the driveway. Is there a nice graded road or 
does the farmer have to pull his load thru ruts and mud, and up a 
long high rickety approach? If he does, he may choose to haul 
his grain to some other elevator. Size up the location of the gaso¬ 
line or oil storage house, if that kind of power happens to be used, 
then go into the office by way of the driveway and don’t forget to 


LIGHTNING PROTECTION IMPROPERLY WiFfED 


ELEVATORS * 43 


























































44 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


take a good look at the working floor as you pass. You should now 
have a pretty good idea of the house and of its rate. Of course, you 
have a lot of work yet to do, and there are several points that may 
influence the rate that you haven’t been able to get at, but you 
have seen enough to know what to expect and if the manager in¬ 
sists on talking insurance or rate, you can talk intelligently. It is 
not desirable to talk those points until you have been over the 
place carefully. The point is that the manager may approach the 
subject at once, and there is nothing that makes an impression like 
a ready and intelligent answer. 

Arriving at the elevator, the first thing to do is to hunt up the 
manager or owner, and make yourself and your mission known. If 
your Company carries the insurance, you have the right to make 
inspections at your pleasure. At the same time, the other party 
has some rights to be considered, and if you go nosing around in a 
high-handed manner first and introduce yourself later by a volley 
of “do this” or “do that,” the manager’s attitude towards you is 
not apt to be favorable. And right here is where you want to put 
forth an effort and a hard effort to make a favorable impression. 
Gain the confidence of your man. Remember he is on the job three 
hundred and sixty-five days out of the year. You are there a few 
hours at the most. What fire prevention and fire protection meas¬ 
ures are exercised are done so by the man on the job. Your first 
mission is to give him a few helpful hints and start him in the 
right direction with enough impetus to carry him thru those three 
hundred and sixty-five days. If you do not make an impression on 
your man and gain his confidence, you cannot instill into him 
enough fire prevention to last while you are getting out of town. 

When you meet the manager or the owner, size him up. Your 
first impressions are apt to be best. His personal appearance, and 
active or inactive manner are pretty certain to be reflected in the 
condition of the elevator. If his office is dirty and unkept, with 
daily papers and trade journals and letters littering the floor and 
desk, you can be pretty certain the out-of-the-way places in the 
elevator are not receiving attention. A dirty personal appearance 
or a dirty office may not necessarily constitute a serious fire hazard, 
but if those are being neglected, you may be certain that other 
things that do constitute real and serious fire hazards are being 
neglected as well. 

Take time to get acquainted with the manager before you do 
anything else. Forget about insurance and fire prevention if he 
will let you, and talk about anything else that he is interested in 
Every man has a hobby. Try to find his. Perhaps it is hunting 
or fishing; if so, interest yourself in the big one he nearly caught 
last year. Ask him about his machinery. Possibly you will notice 
some machine or device of his own construction. If he made it, 
he certainly is interested in it and will be glad to tell vou about it 
if you will give him a chance. Draw him out. You will gain your 
point, and besides you will learn much that is of interest to you. 

SURVEY OF ELEVATOR. 

In making a full survey of a risk, the following points should 
be covered in as much detail as the conditions seem to warrant 
always remembering that the home office underwriter is dependent 
upon you for his information. 


ELEVATORS 


45 


The general method of making the survey should be in about 
the same order as in flour mills covered in chapter II. After hav¬ 
ing finished your preliminary work with the manager, proceed to 
measure up the house, obtaining data for the plan and isometric, 
if one is to' be made. The same symbols and conventions should 
be used as given for mills. In addition to the ground plan, a bin 
plan should be shown, preferably to a scale larger than 50' to the 
inch, which is the scale to be used for all ground plans and iso¬ 
metrics, unless some special feature is to be shown by a partial 
sketch. The bin plan will show the number, size and construction 
of bins. Also' the position of well hole, manlift and elevator legs. 

In order to easily get the amount of material in the founda¬ 
tion, it is usually best to draw up a foundation plan if it is at 
all irregular. From such a plan it is very easy to take off the 
amount of material. Where the foundation walls are regular and 
uniform in cross section, this data can be easily shown on a sec¬ 
tional elevation of the house. 

The manner of showing the amount and size of the various 
materials in the buildings, varies with different inspectors and 
companies. In general, it can be most simply and easily shown 
by a cross-sectional view of the house with the sizes of timbers, 
cribbing, etc., marked in. A fancy sketch consumes too much 
time and is unnecessary, but a wall or bin should be indicated by 
a single line, lettering in the construction. If this method is not 
used, a written description may be used, but few can convey the 
information without a long, drawn out description which is bur¬ 
densome and difficult to follow. Sketches of this sort will also 
save time in making the notes in the field since a considerable 
amount of writing is avoided. 

This detailed information for use only in making up the data 
for the appraisal, should be kept separate from the rest of the 
survey, so that when it is necessary for extra copies to be made 
up for other interested companies, this detailed information will 
not need to be copied, but only the main ground plan (and isometric, 
if one is made) together with the main part of the survey will need 
to be duplicated. If an appraisal is not to be made, the founda¬ 
tion plan and sectional elevations are not necessary. 

The following data should be given in the report: 

LOCATION—Town, County, State. 

RISK—If risk is known by name or number, so state. 

ASSURED—Name and Address. If leased, give from whom and 
terms of lease. 

CLASSIFICATION—State class to which elevator belongs. 
OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT—State whether Corporation, Part¬ 
nership or Individual, giving pertinent information as to finan¬ 
cial and moral standing, the word “Moral” being used in the 
insurance sense. State whether the elevator is under the direct 
management of the owner, or a salaried manager. 

If a Farmers or Co-operative House, give date of Board Meet¬ 
ing and address of President and Secretary. 

HISTORY—Obtain as much information as possible regarding 
property, when built, by whom, changes in ownership or man¬ 
agement, success or failure of business previously and reasons 
therefor, fire record and probable origin of fires. 


46 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


TITLE OR ENCUMBRANCE—State whether land is leased or owned 
wholly or in part. A Dash and Dot (—. —.—.—.) line on the 
ground plan will show the portion on leased ground to best 
advantage when used to show the dividing line between land 
leased and owned. Explain any litigation or encumbrance fully. 
BUSINESS CONDITIONS—State whether operated continuously, 
amount of grain handled, other elevators at station, portion of 
grain handled by assured, territory from which trade is drawn. 
FIRE PROTECTION—Description of Exterior and Interior Fire 
Protection. 

HEAT—Method of heating and description. 

POWER—Describe Power covering the Power Hazards as described 
in chapters on “Power except Electric” and “How to Make an 
Electrical Inspection.” 

LIGHT—State method of lighting. If Electric, cover as outlined 
under Electric Inspection. 

MACHINERY—List the machinery, giving some idea as to condi¬ 
tion, arrangement, convenience and specially hazardous ma¬ 
chines. 

PRESENT INSURANCE—List the present insurance in same man¬ 
ner as suggested under Flour Mill Survey. 

VALUATIONS—It is recommended that the values of the elevator 
be calculated on the work sheets provided in accordance with 
the method given in Chapter on Valuation, putting only a 
summary of the values in the main body of the report. 

RATES—Rate the risk setting out carefully the exact manner of 
doing so, enabling the office to check up your rate as well as 
any subsequent changes. 

RECOMMENDED CHANGES—List requirements, recommendations 
and suggestions. This should be done in accordance with the 
established custom of your home office, but should be well ar¬ 
ranged in accordance with the location of the defect in the 
plant, so that the assured can easily locate the defect. In 
all cases do not destroy the good effect of the inspection and 
good will of the assured by failing to talk over with him the 
improvements listed. 

This is the general outline followed by the majority of the 
companies and must be varied to conform to practices in the Home 
Office, but in general it will be found satisfactory. 

INSPECTION OF A COUNTRY ELEVATOR. 

Assuming that a full and complete survey of the property has 
been made at the time of a previous call, we will consider the 
essential points of an inspection. As has been stated, the approach 
of the Manager or Owner is important, no matter how well the 
Inspector may know him or how many times he has called. Having 
established his relations with the assured the Inspector will proceed 
with the work of inspection. Each Inspector will establish his own 
system, and it may be advisable to deviate from this system to suit 
the convenience of the assured or for some other reason, but a 
system should be adopted and followed unless there is a good reason 
for deviation. It is suggested that the work be done in the order 
in which it is discussed in this chapter. 


ELEVATORS 


47 


CARRY A NOTE BOOK. 

The Inspector should not depend on his memory. He may 
expect to write up his report the same night, but will often be pre¬ 
vented from doing this, and good full notes are essential. It is 
suggested that he should get out his note book before starting the 
inspection, and insert three headings with plenty of space after 
each, one for rating, one for requirements, and other matters that 
he intends to talk over with the assured, and one for changes. Full 
notes should be kept as he goes along. 

OUTSIDE CONDITIONS. 

First, the Inspector should go far enough from the elevator to 
carefully observe the roof, and to do this it will usually be neces¬ 
sary to walk at least three quarters of the way around the elevator 
Then make a closeup inspection, taking note of the open and* 
unscreened windows, windows which might be left open, or broken 
glass, broken siding, loose iron cladding, birds nests in eaves or 
cornices, grain doors piled close to elevator, litter or rubbish, and 
grass or weeds close to elevator. He will then be in a position to 
determine the probability of a fire from locomotive sparks. Full 
notes should be made as he goes along. 

He should now decide whether or not any additions have been 
made to the buildings, and if so, take dimensions and describe with 
the same care that was used in making the original survey. If in 
doubt as to whether or not any part of the plant is new he should 
be sure to determine this point before leaving. If he has the 
survey with him that part is easy. 

He should examine the lightning protection, if any, carefully, 
look for ground wires on iron cladding if the roof and sides are 
iron and the elevator is otherwise entitled to lightning protection 
credit and if rodded determine if the copper is of standard weight, 
air terminals properly placed and general rodding regulations com¬ 
plied with. He should give the ground rod connections a good 
jerk, not strong enough to dislocate the ground rod, but to test 
the soldering of the connection. 

FOUNDATION. 

The foundation must be carefully examined. The Inspector will 
determine if the building shows signs of having settled, whether 
or not in his estimation the foundation is heavy enough to hold 
the weight when the elevator is fully loaded without settling, if 
the foundation wall extends fully around the outside of buildings, 
and if not, is the space so tightly screened and boarded that no 
sparks can enter? If the elevator is iron cladded and boarded 
around foundation the iron cladding should extend to the ground 
if credit is to be allowed for iron cladding. 

EXPOSURES. 

The Inspector will now carefully consider the exposures. He 
will note whether or not there are any new ones since survey, 
inquire carefully into the occupancy and always inspect the expos¬ 
ing buildings also when it is possible to do so. Hazardous expos¬ 
ures often make an otherwise desirable risk entirely undesirable. 
The assured can sometimes be convinced that he should buy an 
exposing building and wreck it or make it safe from a fire insur¬ 
ance standpoint. The Inspector should use every opportunity to 
talk fire prevention to the owners of exposing property. 


48 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


COMPLETE NOTES. 

The Inspector will have now completed the outside work, and 
before proceeding to the inside he should complete his notes as far 
as he has gone, being sure that he has noted any additions to the 
elevator, that his notes on exposures are sufficiently complete to 
enable him to make correct exposure charge, that the rate is being 
worked out as he goes along, and that he has written down any 
suggestions he may have to make for the betterment of the risk. 

POWER PLANT. 

It will usually be convenient to next examine the power plant, 
whether it be steam, internal combustion engine, or elecrtic power 
The Inspector will find it advisable to finish the examination of 
the power equipment and power house before proceeding to any 
other subject, even though it may be inconvenient to do so. He 
will thus avoid the possibility of overlooking some important mat¬ 
ter in connection therewith. (See chapters on “Power Except 
Electric” and “How to Make an Electrical Inspection.” 

INSIDE INSPECTION. 

The Inspector is now ready to proceed to the inside inspec¬ 
tion. Many things must be kept in mind and covered as he goes. 
He will remember the standard printed in the rating schedule gov¬ 
erning the construction of cribbed and frame studded bins, and 
determine whether or not this standard is complied with. He will 
either start at the top or the bottom, covering each floor thor¬ 
oughly before going to the next. Suppose he is to start at the top 
it will be well to take up the most important work first and that 
is the examination of the elevator head, (See “The Bucket Elevator,” 
chapter 9.) Next will come the cleaner, then the other machines 
if any, the water barrel, fire extinguishers, electric light wiring, 
and general conditions of cleanliness and repair. When he has 
finished, it will be well to take one more thorough look to be sure 
he has not overlooked anything and proceed to the next lower 
floor, giving to it the same careful and painstaking scrutiny, finish¬ 
ing with the examination of the elevator boots, corn sheller, and 
general inspection of the basement. He is now ready to finish the 
rating and check up the list of suggestions, and matters regarding 
which he desires information from the assured. 

TALK WITH THE ASSURED. 

The Inspector should never leave a risk without first having 
thoroughly talked over with the assured all matters of fire pre¬ 
vention and insurance, and more useful knowledge will be gained 
from these talks than from any other source. The remedy for a 
defect as suggested by the Inspector anay be impractical for some 
reason unknown to him, and the assured may be able to' suggest 
one that will be satisfactory to all. The assured must be convinced 
of the wisdom and necessity for such changes and improvements 
as are suggested, and if the Inspector is able to give all data 
concerning a fire caused by a condition similar to the one in ques¬ 
tion, the argument will have weight. 

It should not be necessary to caution the Inspector against 
bluffing. He may get away with it, but is much more apt to think 
he is getting away with it when he is not, and if caught bluffing 
he has not only discredited himself, but also prejudiced the mind 
of the assured against the Mutual Inspectors in general. Hp owes 


ELEVATORS 


49 


it to himself, the company for which he works, and the cause which 
he is serving to know whereof he speaks, and if he does not know 
he should promise the assured to get him the best advice obtain¬ 
able. 

EXAMINATION OF POLICIES. 

The policfes should be examined at the time of each call. It 
must be kept in mind that insurance policies are always to be 
kept in such condition that a loss thereunder can be adjusted with 
fairness to the assured and to the insurance companies. All insur¬ 
ance should be concurrent, which means that all insurance cover¬ 
ing the property should bear the same forms and endorsements. 
When in doubt a note should be made and report submitted to the 
home office. If there is any change in insurance since the last list 
was taken or if the list furnished by your company is incorrect, a 
new list of insurance should be taken, and submitted with your 
report. 

GENERAL BUSINESS CONDITIONS AND COMPETITION. 

To report on business conditions intelligently the Inspector 
must know the amounts of the different kinds of grain handled 
during the last season, and for a term of years, a general idea of 
the volume of the retail business, the profit or loss for the past 
year and for a term of years, capitalization and amount paid in 
if a corporation or financial strength if an individual or partner¬ 
ship. Competition is so closely related to business conditions that 
it is difficult to separate the two, but special mention should 
usually be made of competitive conditions. How large a territory 
does the elevator draw from? How many elevators at the station 
and at the stations nearby? After considering the general business 
conditions and competition he will have to decide whether in his 
opinion the investment in the elevator under consideration is justi¬ 
fied. If not are there other considerations which tend to eliminate 
the possibility of moral hazard? Occasionally he will find the ele¬ 
vator to be owned by a local banker and general merchandiser. 
The elevator may draw sufficient business to the town to justify a 
slight loss, or at least the operation of the elevator without direct 
profit. The facts should be clearly and concisely stated. 

MANAGEMENT. 

The Inspector will by now be in a position to judge the effi¬ 
ciency of the management and the ability of the manager or owner. 
If the ownership or management has changed recently the Inspec¬ 
tor's opinion must be based on the general make-up of the man 
and his past experience and accomplishments. An inexperienced 
man may not fail, but the probabilities are that his inexperience 
will cause losses and until he has proven his ability he must be 
considered to be on probation from our standpoint. 

The Inspector must he sure to get the past record, reputation 
and moral standing in the community of every elevator owner or 
manager. 

Classification: Do not overlook this matter while still on the 
ground. Classification must start with the Inspector, and is abso¬ 
lutely essential to the compiling of accurate statistics on losses. 


50 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


FINAL. 

The work at the elevator should now be finished, but before 
leaving, the Inspector should run over his notes again to be sure 
that every point is covered. 

Saying good-bye is nearly as important as your introduction. 
Time should be taken to do it, even if the assured has stepped out 
and it is necessary to wait a few minutes. If the assured shows 
any inclination to be sociable draw him out, find out what his 
hobby is, and get him to talking on it. Most men like to talk to a 
good listener, and nearly every man has a hobby. Friendship is 
a big factor in obtaining the main object, but Fire Prevention and 
not friendship must always be the main object. 

FIRE RESISTIVE POWER HOUSE AND OFFICE. 

During the last ten years, our Companies have paid out nearly 
$600,000 for fires which originated in a power house or office. If 
these buildings had been of fire resistive construction this fire 
waste could not have happened. By going after the immediate 
causes of the fires, and by educating the operator, the number of 
these fires can be greatly reduced, but the waste cannot be entirely 
eliminated. To eliminate these losses will require fire resistive 
construction and the sooner we get started in that direction the 
better. Talk fire resistive offices and power house wherever new 
construction is the topic of conversation. 

In inspecting a fire resistive power house or office, make cer¬ 
tain that they are not used for storing highly combustible ma¬ 
terial. There have been cases where large quantities of oil which 
was being stored in the power house, burned, completely destroy¬ 
ing the building. 


FIRE RESISTIVE ELEVATORS. 

There is a tendency on the part of the operators of fire re¬ 
sistive elevators to assume that their elevator cannot be damaged 
by fire, hence there is no need of fire protection or fire prevention. 
Usually that fact is manifested by very poor housekeeping and 
neglected machinery. The folly of that is well demonstrated by 
the recent explosions and serious fires in risks of this class, and is 
too well understood by the inspector to need further comment. 
It is sufficient to say that about the same internal hazards exist, 
as in frame house and the inspection should be made accordingly. 


CHAPTER IV 

DATA FOR FIGURING VALUATIONS OF FLOUR 
MILLS AND GRAIN ELEVATORS 



y ' 







DATA FOR FIGURING VALUATIONS 


51 


CHAPTER IT. 

DATA FOR FIGURING VALUATIONS OF FLOUR RILLS 
AND GRAIN ELEVATORS. 

METHOD. 

In figuring the cost of buildings for insurance purposes, there 
are several methods of figuring cost data in detail, but the only right 
way is one which takes into consideration the local price of material 
and labor, and combines them in the proper proportion to give the 
cost of material in place in the building. With this in mind, the 
following figures have been computed, which are intended to cover 
all the general construction and allow certain percentages to be 
added, to cover the special features, such as plumbing, wiring, run¬ 
ways, etc. 

It is not necessary to go into detail as to how these figures 
were arrived at; sufficient to say that they are based on the amount 
of material necessary for a certain amount of construction, and 
the amount of labor necessary to place this material. These are 
given as formulae. To use them, it is simply necessary to supply 
the local price of labor and material. For example—under framing 
we notice that the cost of rafters and studs per thousand in place, 
is equal to the cost per thousand plus twenty-six times the cost 
of labor per hour. If the material cost $64 per thousand, and 
labor cost 75 cents per hour, the cost per thousand in place would 
be $64 plus $19.50 or $83.50. 

The following formulae, used with judgment, will give good 
results: 

COST OF CONCRETE FOUNDATION PER CU. YD. 


Carpenter erecting forms.1.5 hrs. @ 

Laborers erecting and removing forms, 1.5 hrs. @ 

Form Lumber = 1/30 x cost per M 

Engineer and Foreman.Per y 2 hr. @ 

.5 cu. yds. of Sand. @ 

.9 cu. yds. of Gravel. @ 

1.6 bbls. of Cement. @ 

Labor—mixing and pouring.2% hrs. @ 

TOTAL 

BASEMENT FLOOR. 

Cost Per 100 Square Feet. 

Foreman and Cement Mixer.1.5 hrs. @ 

Laborers .11.0 hrs. @ 

Engineers .0.5 hrs. @ 

1.5 yds. of Sand. @ 

1.33 bbls. of Cement. @ 

TOTAL 


FRAMING. 

Cost Per 1000. 

S. & R. cost per M plus 26 x carpenter labor per hr. 
Timbers cost per M plus 26 x carpenter labor per hr. 
Cribbing cost per M plus 26 x carpenter labor per hr. 













52 


THE PIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


BRICK WALLS. 

Cost Per 1000 Brick. 


1000 brick . © 

.8 bbls. of lime. @ 

1.0 bbls. of cement. @ 

.65 cu. yds. sand. @ 

8 hrs. one brick layer. @ 

16 hrs. laborers . @ 


TOTAL 

FLOORING. 

Cost Per Sq. 


Hard 3"- 

-.15 

X 

cost M plus 5 

x labor hr. = 

Common 4"- 

-.133 

X 

“ M “ 4 

x “ 

ft 

Common 6"- 

-.12 

X 

“ M “ 4 

x “ 

it 

2x6- 

-.25 

X 

“ M- “ 5 

X “ 

ti 

3x6- 

-.40 

X 

“ M “ 6 

X “ 

it 

SHEATHING AND ROOF BOARDS 

Cost Per Sq. 

Unmatched 

.1 

X 

cost M plus 2 

x labor 

hr. = 

Matched 6" 

.12 

X 

“ M “ 2 

x “ 

a 

“ 8" 

.114 

X 

“ M “ 2 

x “ 

a 

“ 10 " 

.11 

X 

“ M “ 2 

x “ 

a 

Drop Sidg. 

.15 

X 

“ M “ 5-6 

x “ 

a 

Lap “ 

.15 

X 

“ M “ 5-6 

x “ 

tt 


PAINTING. 

Cost per square, one priming coat, two finishing coats: % price 
per gal. plus 3 x labor per hour. 

In figuring the number of brick in a wall, the following table 


is useful: 

MULTIPLY the length of the wall by its height for the number 
of superficial feet. Multiply that by the number of brick per super¬ 
ficial feet. The result is the number in the wall. 

Figure pilasters separate. 

Thickness of Wall Brick per Superficial Foot 


4" 

n" 


18" 

22 " 

26" 

30" 


7 

14 

21 

28 

35 

42 

49 


In figuring the amount of material in walls and floors, con¬ 
sider them as solid. That will just about offset the cost of windows 
and doors and stairways. 

After haying figured out a building, it is necessary to make 
certain additions. Just what these additions are depends on the 
plant and the location. For example—in Montana there would be 
an expensive heating system, while in- Georgia there would prob¬ 
ably be none. Some mills have a great many runways or possibly 
decorative features or other minor details, which are hard to figure. 
These can best be taken care of by adding certain amounts after 
the important items have been figured. The following percentages 
will serve as a guide: 


Hardware . 5% 

Extras . 10% 


Contractor’s Profit & Architect’s Fees.10%-15% 

















DATA FOR FIGURING VALUATIONS 


53 


EXAMPLE. 

Probably the best way to illustrate the figures is to compute 
the cost of a mill plant, shown in figure 8, page 54. 

The description of the plant is: 

Mill Building— 

4 stories and basement, frame, composition roof, concrete 
foundation, 40x60x65 basement floor to plate, and about 8' higher 
to peak.. 

The floor heights are— 


Basement 

9' 

high 

1st floor 

14' 

(( 

2nd “ 

14' 

it 

3rd “ 

11' 

it 

4 th “ 

17' 

a 


The construction is: 18" concrete foundation; concrete floor 
in basement; beams 10"xl2" lateral 15'; 10"xl0" posts 13'; 2"x6" 
studs 16"; 3"xl2" floor joists 24"; 2"x8" roof joist 24"; 1" Sheath¬ 
ing and drop siding; 1" roof boards and composition roofing; 1" 
rough and 1" hard flooring. 

Elevator— 

Detached 20', frame, cribbed, iron clad, metal roof, concrete 
foundation, 40'x50'x40' foundation to plate. 

Cupola 12'x50'xl0' 

Driveway 15'x50'xl4' 

Bins 10 full and 4 overhead. 

The construction is: Six cross walls, 2'x3'x40' and outside 
foundation average 2'x3'; 2x6 cribbing 20', and 2'x4' cribbing above; 
iron cladding; 2"x6" roof joist 24"; 1" roof boards and metal roofing. 


Power House— 

Detached 12', brick, composition roof, 28'x30'xl6' high. The 
construction is: concrete floor; 13" brick walls; 2x10 roof joists 
16"; 1" roof boards and composition roofing. Brick walls between 
boiler and engine room. Metal stack 65' high outside on brick base. 

COMPUTATION. 

The first step in the computation is to secure the local prices 
of labor and material and substitute these values in the formula, 
to determine the unit cost of the material in place. 

For these prices we will take the following, which were the 
average for North Dakota in the fall of 1919: 

Heavy timber .$58.00 per M. 


2x4, 2x6, 2x8. 

.. 51.00 

a 

a 

Cribbing . 

.. 42.00 

44 

a 

1" sheathing . 

. . 45.00 

it 

a 

1" matched flooring (rough). .. 

. . 55.00 

a 

a 

1" hard “ .:. .. . 

.. 80.00 

it 

a 

3"xl2" . 

.. 58.00 

a 

a 

Drop Siding . 

.. 60.00 

a 

it 

Brick . 

. . 22.00 

a 

a 

Lime . 

.. 2.95 

a 

bbl. 

Cement .. 

. . 3.26 

ii 

it 

Sand . 

. . 1.80 

it 

yd. 

Cravel . 

. . 1.90 


a 

Carpenter . 

.75 

ii 

hr. 

Brick Mason . 

. . 1.00 

a 

a 

Laborer . 

.. .50 

a 

a 


















ziz:=:.: .. „ =— p 


54 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 



Figure 8. 
































DATA FOR FIGURING VALUATIONS 


55 


The unit cost of material in place figures as follows: 
COST OP CONCRETE FOUNDATION: 


Cost per cu. yd. of concrete— 


Carpenter erecting forms... 


.75 = 

1.10 

Laborers erecting and removing forms.. 

,. .1.5 hrs. @ 

.50 = 

.75 

Form lumber 1/30 x cost per M. 

@ 

36.00 — 

1.20 

Engineer and Foreman. 


.80 = 

.40 

.5 cu. yds. of sand.. 

■ @ 

1.80 = 

.90 

.9 cu. yds. of gravel or stone. 

@ 

1.90 = 

1.70 

1.6 bbls. of cement. 

@ 

3.25 = 

5.20 

Labor mixing and pouring. 

,. .2.5 hrs. @ 

.50 = 

1.25 


TOTAL.. 


12.50 

BASEMENT FLOOR: 

• • ■ . 



Cost per square— 

Foreman and cement mixer. 

...1.5 hrs. @ 

.80 = 

1.20 

Laborers . 

, .11.0 hrs. @ 

.50 = 

5,50 

Engineers . 


.75 == 

.35 

1.5 yds. of sand. 

@ 

1.80 = 

2.70 

1.33 bbls. of cement. 

@ 

3.25 — 

4.35 


Cost per 1000 brick— 

1000 brick .. 

.8 bbls. of lime.... 
1.0 bbls. of cement. 
.65 cu. yds. of sand 

Brick layer .. 

Laborer . 


COST PER SQUARE IN PLACE.14.10 


<§> 22.00 = 22.00 

@ 2.95 = 2.40 

@ 3.25 = 3.25 

@> 1.80 = 1.15 

8 hrs. @ 1.00 = 8.00 

16 hrs. @ .50 = 8.00 


COST PER M, IN PLACE.44.80 


FRAMING— 

Studs and rafters—Cost per M plus 26 x labor per hr 
Timbers “ “ M “ 26 x “ “ “ 

Cribbing “ “ M “ 26 x “ “ “ 

FLOORING— 

Hard 3" .15 x cost per M plus 5 x labor per hr.. 
Common 6" .12 x “ “ M “ 4 x “ 


Cost per M 
. ..70.50 

.77.50 

.61.50 


Cost per Sq. 

.15.75 

. ..8.60 


SHEATHING AND ROOF BOARDS— 

Drop Siding .15 x cost per M plus 5 x labor per hr 
6" .12 x “ “ M “ 2 x “ “ 


Cost per Sq. 

.12.75 

...... A 6.90. 


PAINTING— 

.66 x price per gal. plus 3 x labor per hr... 
(for one priming coat and two coats of paint) 


Cost per Sq; 
. 5.00 

































56 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


ROOFING— 

Composition roofing costs from $5.00 to $10.00 per square. 

Metal “ “ “ 12.00 to 20.00 “ “ 

IRON CLADDING— 

Iron Cladding costs $7.50 to $10.00 per square, depending on 
the gauge used. 

The next step is to determine the quantity of each kind of 
material and the cost of each. 

That is figured as follows: 

MILL BUILDING— 

Foundation—1 Vz x 200' x 9' x 1/27 = 100 cu. yds. @ 12.50 = 1,250.00 
Bsmt. floor—40 x 60 x 1/100 = 24 sq. @ 14.10 = 340.00 

Beams—5 (beams per floor) x 5 (floors & roof) 
x 40 (length) x 10 (board feet per ft. of 

length) .= 10,000 

Posts—4 (posts under each beam) x 5 (beams 
per floor) x 65 (height of posts) x 10x10 


12 

(board) feet per foot of length.— 11,000 

Floor Joists—40/2 (No. of F. J. per floor) x 4 
(floors) x 60 (length) x 3 (board ft. per 
lineal feet) .— 14,400 


Total carried forward. 35,400 

Plus 10% waste. 3,600 


39,000 

39,000 @ 77.50 = 3,000.00 
Studs—200 (circumference of bldg.) x 12/16 
(spacing of studs) x 56 (length) x 2x6 (board 


12 

feet per foot of length).= 8,400 

Roof Joists—60/2 (number) x 45 (length) x 16/12 

(board feet per foot in length).= 1,800 


10,200 

Plus 10% waste. 1,000 


11,200 

11,200 @ 70.50 = 790.00 

Sheathing: 200 (circumference of bldg.) 
x 56 (height above foundation) 

x 1/100 .= 112 sq. (g) 6.90= 770.00 


Roof Boards 

45x60x1/100. 

. .= 27 

it 

@ 6.90 

185.00 

Roofing 

45x60x1/100. 

..= 27 

it 

@ 7.50 

210.00 

Drop siding 

200x56x1/100. 

..= 112 

a 

@ 12.75 

1,430.00 

Painting 

200x56x1/100. 

..= 112 

it 

@ 5.00 

560.00 

Rough floor 

40x60x4 floor x 1/100.. 

..= 96 

tt 

@ 8.60 

825.00 

Hard 

40x60x4 “ x 1/100.. 

. .= 96 

a 

@ 15.75 

1,510.00 


10,870.00 





















DATA FOR FIGURING VALUATIONS 


57 


Add for hardware. 5%. 545.00 

Add for Architect fees. 5%. 545.00 

Add for extras.10%. 1,090.00 


TOTAL COST .13,050.00 

ELEVATOR— 

Foundation: 6 (crosswalls) x 2' x 3' x 40' x 

1/27 (cu. ft. per cu. yd.). 54 

180 (circumference of bldg.) x 2 x 3 x 
1/27 (cu. ft. per cu. yd.). 40 


94 @ 12.50 = 1,170.00 

2" x 6" cribing — 440 (lineal feet for each 
course) 

x 20 (height of cribbing) x 6.85 (courses 


per ft, in height). 60,000 

2" x 4" cribbing = 440x20x6.85x2x4 (board 

12 

ft. per lineal ft.). 40,000 


100,000 

Plus 10% for waste. 10,000 


110,000 


Cribing 


110,000 

@ 61.50 = 

6,750.00 

Iron Cladding 

180x40x1/100 = 

72 sq. 

@ 

10.00 = 

720.00 

Roof Joist 

26x40 = 

1040 

@ 

70.50 = 

70.00 

Roof Boards 

45x50x1/100 = 

22 sq. 


6.90 = 

150.00 

Roofing 

45x50x1/100 = 

22 “ 

@ 

15.00 — 

330.00 

Cupola 

12x50x10 == 

6000 cu. ft. @ 

.10 = 

600.00 

Driveway 

15x50x14 = 

10500 “ “ 

@ 

.05 — 

525.00 






10,315.00 

Add for 

hardware. 

. 5% 



. 515.00 

Contractors’ Profits’ . 




. 1,030.00 

Add for 

extras. 

.10% 



. 1,030.00 






12,890.00 


In figuring an elevator of the type described here, where only 
the center bins are overhead, that fact may be overlooked, since it 
requires additional reinforcing and timbers and labor to build the 
overhead bins. In other words, if all bins are figured as running 
to foundation, that will about make up for the extra material and 
work required to build overhead bins. If all the bins are overhead, 
or if the working floor is very large, then it will be necessary to 
go into detail. 

























58 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


POWER HOUSE— 


Concrete floor: 28x30x1/100. : 

Brick: 144 (circumference of wall) x 16 


8.4 sq. @ 14.10 

120.00 

(height) x 21 (brick per superficial 
ft. of 13" wall).... 


48,500 


Add for waste, 6%. 


2,500 




51,000 


Roof Boards 28x30x1/100 = 8.4 sq. 

@ 

6.90... 

. 60.00 

Roofing 28x30x1/100 = 8.4 “ 

@ 

7.50.... 

. 65.00 

51,000 

@ 

44.80. 

.2,280.00 

Roof Joist: 28x12/16x30x2x10 = 1,050 

@ 

70.50. 

. 71.00 

12 







2,596.00 

Add for hardware. 


5%. 

. 130.00 

Add for Architect fees. 


5%.; 

. 130.00 

Add for extras. 


10%... 





3,116.00 

SMOKE STACK.... 



900.00 


GENERAL. 

This example illustrates the error that might be made in fig¬ 
uring by the Cubic Foot Rule. At the time this was figured, a fair 
price per cubic foot was eleven cents (11c) for frame mill build¬ 
ings. This one actually figures out a little over eight, cents (8c), 
due to its light construction. 

In making allowance for contractors’ profits and architects’ 
fees, it is necessary to take into consideration the size and con¬ 
struction of the building under consideration. An elevator building 
will probably not have an architect fee, and the contractors profit 
will amount to about 10%. A large fire resistive mill will have a 
considerable architect fee, while the contractors’ profit might not 
run as high as 10%. 

In getting local prices, considerable care must be exercised. 
The local dealers are loath to give wholesale prices in car.load lots, 
and prices received from them should be carefully checked before 
using. Lumber prices will not vary much from place to place, but 
brick, sand and gravel depend upon local conditions, and their price 
will vary considerably. Sometimes prices on cement includes the 
sacks, for the return of which ten to twenty-five cents per sack is 
allowed. This point must be considered in getting prices. 

MACHINERY VALUATION. 

Machinery should be priced as to their replacement cost. It is 
not usually desirable to go into detail as to shafting, hangers, 
pulleys, belts, spouting, conveyors, etc. Just as good results can 
be obtained by an estimate of these, based on the total replace¬ 
ment values of the machines, since these machines vary with the 
machinery item. 



















DATA FOR FIGURING VALUATIONS 


59 


One method is to price the elevator legs and conveyors with 
the machinery and add to the total from 40% to 60% for driving 
connections, millwright work, freight, etc. 

Another method is to add to the cost of the machines, the 
following items: 


Add for heads, boots, pulleys, belting and cups.12% to 17% 

Add for metal driving connections.10% “15% 

Add for belting (exclusive of elevator belt)..15% “20% 

Add for hardware . 2% “ 3% 

Add for legging, spouting, conveyors and bins.15% “20% 

Add for millwright work .30% “35% 

Add for freight . 2% “ 5% 


These figures applied with judgment give fair results. 

DEPRECIATION. 

The depreciation of buildings or equipment cannot be figured 
or computed by any set rule. It may, however, be closely esti¬ 
mated by a careful inspection of the property. 

The causes of depreciation are mainly from three sources; 
first; ordinary use, “wear and tear”; second, age and deteriora¬ 
tion from natural causes, rot, rust, electrolysis, etc.; third, change 
in market value, due to invention, inefficiency, inferiority or design, 
etc., and obsolescence. 

The value of material or equipment at the end of their use¬ 
fulness for what they were originally intended, may be classed 
as follows: 

Scrap value is the actual selling price of items, such as 
machinery, engines, rolls, beams, etc., which are absolutely worth¬ 
less as they are, but which can be used again after remelting or 
re-rolling. 

Salvage value is the selling price of the article after their re¬ 
moval. It can never be less than the scrap value and may be worth 
considerable more if it can be used again, without being re-manu- 
factured. 

Recovery value is the salvage value, minus cost of removal. 

FLOORING. 

Figure 9, page 60, shows three kinds of flooring in general use 
in flour mills. Tongued and grooved i3 the usual form found, but 
in standard and semi-mill construction, the splined floor is required. 
The laminated floor is not as common as are the other two. 









60 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 



TONG UED <£ GROOVE?. 



SPUNED 



Figure 9. 

Bureau Standard 797. 






















DATA FOR FIGURING VALUATIONS 


61 



Figure 10. 

Bureau Standard 7 98, 





























62 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 

BOILER HEATING SURFACE AND HORSE POWER. 


Diam. 

Tubes of Boiler, 

Diameter 


Horse 

Inches 

Length, Feet 

Inches 

Number 

Power 

54 

14 

3 

54 

66 

54 

16 

3 

54 

75 

54 

14 

3Va 

44 

63 

54 

16 

3V 2 

44 

72 

54 

14 

4 

34 

57 

54 

16 

4 

34 

65 

60 

16 

3 

72 

98 

60 

18 

3 

72 

110 

60 

16 

3 y 2 

50 

82 

60 

18 

3 y 2 

50 

92 

60 

16 

4 

46 

86 

60 

18 

4 

46 

96 

66 

16 

3 

94 

125 

66 

18 

3 

94 

140 

66 

16 

3 % 

70 

110 

66 

18 

3 y 2 

70 

124 

66 

16 

4 

56 

103 

66 

18 

4 

56 

115 

72 

16 

3 

118 

154 

72 

18 

3 

118 

173 

72 

20 

3 

118 

192 

72 

16 

3 y 2 

94 

145 

72 

18 

3 y 2 

94 

163 

72 

20 

3V 2 

94 

181 

72 

16 

4 

70 

126 

72 

18 

4 

70 

142 

72 

20 

4 

70 

157 

78 

16 

3 

140 

181 

78 

18 

3 

140 

204 

78 

20 

3 

140 

226 

78 

16 

3 y 2 

108 

165 

78 

18 

3 y 2 

108 

186 

78 

20 

3 y 2 

108 

206 

78 

16 

4 

88 

156 

78 

18 

4 

88 

175 

78 

20 

4 

88 

194 

84 

18 

3 

172 

247 

84 

20 

3 

172 

275 

84 

18 

3y 2 

136 

231 

84 

20 

3 y 2 

136 

256 

84 

18 

4 

106 

208 

84 

20 

4 

106 

231 





CHAPTER V 
EXTERNAL HAZARDS 






EXTERNAL HAZARDS 


71 


CHAPTER V. 

EXTERNAL HAZARDS. 

The statistics compiled by the Mutual Fire Prevention Bureau 
show that a surprisingly large percentage of fires originate from 
causes exterior to the plant. The prevention of these fires is 
almost entirely within the control of the mill or elevator owner, 
and a careful and painstaking inspection of the exterior and sur¬ 
roundings is fully as important as the inspection of the interior. 

LOCOMOTIVE SPARKS. 

The Railway Fire Protection Association with headquarters 
at New Haven, Conn., is doing excellent work in the matter of 
prevention of fires from locomotive sparks. They are attempting 
to extend to all roads a system of regular daily inspection of all 
locomotive smoke stack screens and fire boxes. Fire prevention 
committees have been organized, and fire prevention is becoming a 
matter* of pride on each road and on each division. 

However, there are still engineers who pull the screens out of 
their stacks to better their draft, draw their ashes in front of 
whatever building the engine happens to be standing, and other¬ 
wise unnecessarily jeopardize property. Fire prevention is a mat¬ 
ter of evolution and education, and for some years yet, at least, it 
will be the inspector’s duty to use his influence to have the exterior 
of all buildings along the railroad right-of-way and their sur¬ 
roundings in such condition that a live coal from a locomotive will 
be harmless. 

ROOFING. 

The day of the shingle roof should have passed years ago, and 
particularly doqs this apply to buildings situated on the railroad 
right-of-way. The inspector will take his instructions as to whether 
or not to accept insurance on a plant having shingle roof from 
the company for which he works, but shingle roofs are coming 
more and more into disrepute as losses directly traceable to shingle 
roofs continue to occur. 

The use of shingle roofs should be discouraged, and wherever 
found a recommendation should be made that they be replaced 
with a good grade of composition or metal roof. The assured can 
in nearly every case be shown that the insurance saving by reason 
of the change will pay interest on the original investment and 
the entire upkeep of the new roof. That, together with the increased 
«afety from fire, should make the talking points strong enough to 
convince any assured. 

There are on the market several kinds of roof cements, but 
none of these will last for any length of time on shingles. The 
dry shingles;, draw all of the oil from the cement, and it cracks and 
peels off. The fire hazard is probably increased rather than 
decreased by the use of prepared cements on shingle roofs. 

A metal roof is considered to be best; particularly when on 
an iron clad building, with cornices covered and siding grounded. 
This gives the most efficient lightning protection. (See “Lightning 
Protection.”) 

If composition roof is used, the best grade is the least expen¬ 
sive over a period of years, and the assured should be cautioned 
to have it well laid on a flat surface to insure satisfactory service. 


72 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


IRON CLADDING AND SIDING. 

The ideal covering for a frame house is, of course, a good 
grade of galvanized iron, with cornices, eaves, window frames and 
sills, and every combustible part of the house carefully protected. 

Wooden siding, if of a good grade of lumber, so put on that 
there are no openings, and in good repair, is not particularly haz¬ 
ardous, but unless the cornices and eaves are enclosed birds will 
build their nests there. Fires originating in birds’ nests in the 
eaves or cornices are very common, and houses should be so con¬ 
structed that there is no opportunity for the birds to nest on any 
exposed surface. 

Broken wooden siding is particularly dangerous, and wherever 
found the assured should be asked to make repairs at once. 

FOUNDATION. 


The foundation is one of the most important considerations of 
any building. That is particularly true of an elevator, winch is 
subject to unequal loading. Many elevators of good construc¬ 
tion have gone to pieces because of a poor foundation. Ths 
full hazard from this cause is not apparent at the first glance, but 
a little consideration will show its importance. Due to loading and 
unloading, and particularly to unequal loading, there is always 
more or less settling and shifting of the building. This is much 
more pronounced when the foundation is poor. The shafting may 
be thrown out of line and hot bearings and belt trouble result. 
The office chimney is often affected, resulting in dangerous cracks 
and defective flues. The leg, which is supposed to be entirely inde¬ 
pendent of the building, but which in 90% of the houses is not, 
may even be affected. If the foundation is poor, every time the 
house settles or shifts, it will take a permanent set, resulting fin¬ 
ally in a house racked and seriously out of plumb. 

There should be a good, substantial outside foundation with 
cross walls under the bins and a concrete slab under the entire 
area to aid in cleanliness and to keep out the rats. In many mod¬ 
ern houses, the cribbing extends to the foundation. That is very 
desirable. In other houses and particularly in old houses, posts 
or underpinning are inserted between the foundation and the crib¬ 
bing. Examine the underpinning. Some of it may be out of plumb, 
or broken or rotted. If so, ask that it be replaced preferably with 
concrete piers, also examine the sills for rot. 

If the foundation wall does not extend entirely around the 
outside, the space between piers and crosswalls should be boarded 
or screened so tightly that locomotive sparks cannot enter, 
and strongly enough to keep out tramps or boys. If the elevator 
is iron cladded the space around foundation must be either iron 
cladded or screened to get credit for the iron cladding. 

WINDOW SCREENS. 


If all windows are properly screened, part of the hazard result¬ 
ing from sparks will be eliminated. The screen should be fine 
enough to keep out sparks, but coarse enough to allow proper 
ventilation. About No. 8 mesh should give good results. 


CLEAR SPACE AROUND ELEVATOR. 

The weeds , and the grass should be cut and the sod skinned 
off for from 6 to 10 around the elevator and all other buildings. 


EXTERNAL HAZARDS 


73 


RUBBISH AND GRAIN DOORS. 

•^kbiBh should not be permitted to accumulate. Grain doors 
should be kept neatly piled at a safe distance from the building. 

EXPOSING BUILDINGS. 

During last ten years, our Companies have experienced 
204 fires from exposure, costing them over seven hundred thou¬ 
sand dollars. The exposure is something that is usually beyond 
the control of the field man, but it should be taken into considera¬ 
tion in making the rate and determining desirability of the risk. 









CHAPTER VI 

ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS 



ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS 


81 


CHAPTER YI. 

ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS. 

DEFINITIONS. 

In order to make an intelligent electrical inspection it is neces¬ 
sary to have some understanding of electricity. 

An electric circuit is very similar to a water circuit. Suppose 
there is a paddle wheel turning in a closed water circuit as shown 
m figure 11. The water will be forced from the reservoir thru 
outlet A under pressure and will be returned to the reservoir 
thru B. 

Now if we consider the reservoir and paddle wheel as an elec¬ 
tric generator and the connecting pipe as the distribution wires we 
have a complete electric circuit with outlet “A” the positive brush 
and the return “B” as the negative brush of our generator. The 
pressure that causes the water to flow in our example will in our 
electric circuit be called volts and the flow of water will be called 
amperes. Due to the friction between the water and the pipe some 
resistance is offered to the flow of the water. The same thing is 
true in our electrical circuit. This we speak of simply as re¬ 
sistance and measure it in ohms. 

In our work we are interested in two kinds of electricity, viz.: 
direct current (D. C.) and alternating current (A. C.) 

Direct current is a current which flows in one continuous di¬ 
rection just like the water in our example. 

Alternating current is a current which changes its direction ot 
flow at regular recurring intervals. In other words it starts to flow 
in one direction, increasing in volume until a certain maximum is 
reached, then decreases until there is no current moving, then 
starts to flow in the opposite direction, gradually increasing to a 
maximum, then decreasing to zero again and starting all over in the 
original direction. When the starting point is reached the current 


B 


Figure 11. 








82 THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


is said to have passed thru one cycle or two alternations. The 
number of cycles that a current passes thru each second is spoken 
of as frequency. When you read on the name plate of a machine 
“sixty cycle” it means that that particular machine is designed to 
operate on a current which passes thru 60 cycles per second. A 
sixty cycle current changes direction 120 times per second. 

Practically all commercial circuits are 60 cycle or 25 (or 30) 
cycle. Lower frequencies are not used because it is noticeable on 
lamps since it causes them to flicker. 

Electric energy is measured in watts. In direct current volts 
times amperes equals watts. One ampere, flowing under one volt 
pressure is equal to one watt. If it continues to flow for one 
hour it is called one watt hour. One thousand watt hours is 
called a kilowatt hour. That is the unit which the ordinary house 
meter records. 

In a two wire alternating circuit if the volts and amps al¬ 
ways pulled together volts times amperes would also equal watts. 
However, sometimes these two units are like a team of unruly 
horses and when one is pulling hard the other hangs back. In 
that case the amount of work which they actually do divided by 
the amount of work they would do if they both pulled together 
(volts times amperes) is called power factor. Suppose you have a 
team of horses, one called volts and one called amps, pulling on a 
load. Volts settles into the harness while amperes hangs back. 
Volts decides there is no use of him trying to pull it alone so he 
slacks up. About that time amperes settles into the harness and 
gives a good pull, then he sees volts isn’t exerting himself, so he 
slacks up. Just then volts starts pulling again. Thus they see-saw 
back and forth, the pull that they exert on the load being much less 
than would be if they would pull together. If we divide the pull 
they do make by the pull they would make by working together 
we have Power factor. 

The fact that we do not have to worry about power factor in 
D. C. current leads to the question of why A. C. current is most 
used. In generating D. C. current sliding contacts are used. Under 
high voltage these spark considerable, consequently the voltage 
which can be generated on a D. C. machine is limited. When 
power is transmitted the wire carrying it offers resistance to it. 
The higher the current the more the resistance. That resistance 
means actual power wasted since it is spent in heating the con¬ 
ductor. To do away with this resistance loss it is necessary to 
increase the size of the conductor or to cut down on the flow of 
current. The first method is limited by the size of conductor that 
can be conveniently handled and by the excessive cost. The second 
method is the proper remedy but if the same power is to be trans¬ 
mitted as before then the voltage must be increased as the flow 
of current is decreased. Very soon a point is reached beyond 
which it is impossible to increase D. C. voltage economically. That 
is not the case with A. C. voltage, because it can be stepped up or 
down at will by the use of transformers. 

Three wires (that is three phase current) are used because it 
is the most economical. A two wire single phase circuit will 
transmit a certain amount of power. A four wire two phase cir¬ 
cuit of the same size wires will transmit twice as much power, but 
since that requires four wires there is no saving. A three phase* 


ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS 


83 


three wire circuit of the same size will transmit 1.7 as much power 
In other words by using three phase almost two times as much 
power can be transmitted by increasing the copper fifty per cent 
resulting in a great saving. 

HOW TO MAKE AN ELECTRICAL, INSPECTION. 

The most readable electric report is one made in the form of 
a diagram with any necessary discriptive matter on a separate sheet 
attached. 

The following conventions and symbols should be used for 
that purpose: 


/ 

C ONFENT/CNS 

And. Symbols 

Recommended for use. in 
/LLECTRlCFU- jO/Y?47?/?/yS 
o reports ond specif icoT/ons 

CON¬ 

VENTION 

SYMBOL 

Yipparatvi. 


TRANS. 
-Qround. 

ERA /VS FORM%S TATE NUMBER, EOLTAGE 

OF primary t sfco/y/?ar y /tnjj /FGRCumMED. 

$ 

Lt. rtr. 

d/ONTN/NQ ARRESTERS. 

LL 

ST. KS 
n.r.K.s. 

SINGLE THROW HN/FE SWITCH. 

boujble. « •• •• 


S.T. O.S. 

*> rh LV.f l 

SINCE E THROW O/L SWITCH nHA LOW FOL T 
RELEsse. 

t 

1 

GHmp. 

RECIFE capacit/™ 0 ™™"' 0 *™ 
GIVE DESCRIPTION 

4 + 

CONDi ENT. 

conduit entrance: grounded. 

SOL UDJJEL TA -STANDARD F*OT HEAD. 


1 

C.T. 

P.T. 

CURRENT TRANS TURNER 
POTENTIAL 

2b)® 




C.iB. 



Rtf. ST. 

RHEOSTAT STARTER 

rt; 

hr 

AS.wrt 

LVR. And 

qlt.R. 



S.Q.M. 

SQU/RREL CAGE MOTOR 

o/tr nuns plate, data, -horse rower 

(s) 

QEN. 

TEN ERA TOR **** ™ r£ 

(t ENERATVRj^ prSCR/PTWN /F SPECIAL 

© 4B 

SR-n. 

SLIP RING MOTOR W/TH DRUM. 

CON TROL LER AND EXTERNAL RES/ST. 

r-• 

L J 

WX. 

WOODEN SWITCH CABINET 

O 

3 

M(. 

metal switch cabinet 


Figure 12. 

Bureau Standard 799. 







































84 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


The logical place to start is outside at the lightning arrestors. 

LIGHTNING ARRESTORS. 

Lightning arrestors should be installed, as per paragraph B, 
Rule 9 of our Code. Quite often we find that lightning arrestors 
have given some trouble and as a remedy their ground wire has 
been cut. The inspector should look for that feature. Follow the 
wires to the transformer. 

TRANSFORMERS. 

Transformers are for increasing or decreasing the voltage. 
They consist of two separate coils of wire, of a great many turns 
emersed in oil. Because of this oil they must not be located inside 
of a building (except by special permission) or so located that any 
of their combustible supports are closer than ten feet to a combusti¬ 
ble building, and they must not be located over a combustible root 
































ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS 


85 


The manufacturers claim that the oil used in transformer cases is 
practically noninflammable and as such there is very little hazard 
from fire. That may be true, but we know of several transformers 
which have burned, and were responsible for considerable burning 
oil being thrown about. We have seen transformer cases split open 
by a severe current, permitting the oil to' leak out. It may be true 
that the oil used in the new type of transformers is noninflammable, 
but certainly some used in the old type is highly combustible. It 
is beyond our power to determine the nature of the oil used, 
consequently we must have all transformers properly safe-guarded. 

Transformer secondaries of 220 volts or less should be grounded. 
Quite often, lightning or an abnormal surge on the line, causes the 
insulation between the primary and secondary windings to break 
down, thus permitting the high voltage to come in on the secondary. 
If the secondary is grounded, that provides an easy path to the 
ground. Otherwise, the high voltage follows the wires into the mill, 
and considerable damage may result. We have experienced several 
severe fires and some lives have been lost, from this cause. It is 
significant to note that recently in Canada, several buildings were 
burned by high voltage coming in on the secondary wire. The 
Insurance Company maintained that the Power Company was at 
fault, since they had not taken proper means to safeguard their 
clients by having the secondaries properly grounded. The matter 
was dragged thru the Provincial Courts and finally to the Privy 
Council of London, where the Insurance Company was upheld and 
the Power Company was forced to pay all losses. 

If the primary leads to the transformers are coiled as shown 
in figure 13 they will serve as a choke coil and tend to prevent 
lightning from entering the transformers. 

Follow the wires to the building entrance. 

DRIP LOOP. 

Where service wires enter a building, they should be looped 
downward then upward, to the condulet entrance. The idea being 
that water, running down the wire, will collect at the lowest point 
and drop off, but will not follow the wires into the building. 

PUSES. 

Fuses should be closely examined to make sure they are of the 
proper rating. 

Refillable Fuses which are approved by the Underwriters Labo¬ 
ratories are approved by our Companies. It is required that they 
should keep on hand at least 12 fillers for each size of fuse, and 
that 3 should be kept at all times in the cabinet. 

All fuses and switches shall be enclosed. 

WIRE. 

All wiring should be checked for proper size. In the entrance 
cabinet, it is usually possible to get at the bare copper. If that is 
not the case, the size of the wfire may easily be determined by 
measuring the outside diameter over the insulation and referring 
to the table below. 

Weather proof wire or asbestos covered wire is not permitted 
inside of building. Where such wire is installed on power circuits 
or in conduit make requirement for approved wire. 


86 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


In dryer rooms and such places it is sometimes necessary to 
use asbestos covered wire. It must never be used in conduit and 
must be very well insulated. 

The following table will be of use for determining sizes of D. B. 


rubber covered stranded wire or cable. 

Outside 

Outside 

Cable 

No. Wires Nearest 

Dia. Over 

Dia. 

Size 

Q 

in Strand B. & S. 

7 16 

Bare Wire 

Over Insul. 
11/32 

0 

« 

7 

14 

11/64 

7/16 

0 

k 

7 

13 

3/16 

13/32 

0 

A 

7 

12 

7/32 

7/16 

1 

Q 

7 

11 

1/4 

15/32 

0 

2 

7 

10 

9/32 

1/2 

1 

19 

14 

5/16 

9/16 

0 

19 

13 

23/64 

39/64 

00 

19 

12 

25/64 

21/32 

000 

19 

11 

29/64 

23/32 

0000 

19 

10 

1/2 

49/64 

250000 

37 

12 

19/32 

29/32 

300000 

37 

11 

41/64 

61/64 

400000 

37 

10 

47/64 

1- 3/64 

500000 

61 

11 

27/32 

1- 9/64 

600000 

61 

10 

29/32 

1- 1/4 

700000 

61 

10 

31/32 

1- 5/16 

750000 

61 

Between 9 & 10 

1- 1/64 

1- 3/8 

800000 

61 

9 

1- 3/64 

1-13/32 

900000 

61 

Between 8 & 9 

1- 3/32 

1-15/32 

1000000 

61 

8 

1- 5/32 

1-33/64 

1250000 



1-19/64 

1-45/64 

1500000 



1-13/32 

1-51/64 

2000000 



1- 5/8 

2- 3/64 

Due to 

different 

stranding and insulating the over 

all dimen- 


sio'ns will vary and may not be accurate to within one wire size. 
The only safe way is to get to the copper. This table is for rubber 
covered wire only and does not apply to varnished cambric or any 


other kind of insulation. 

Assume we have three 220 V. motors the sketch at the entrance 
switch may be similar to figure 14. 


* 6 hf/re 

(cC 


* £ h/,r* 

/So 

4So 

f ryj 4 #1 _ 

300 000C«Cbi/c \ 

& oooof//re 

300 

/v J— 






Figure 1^. 











ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS 


87 


From there the circuit will split up. Follow each run sepa¬ 
rately and put down the various items of equipment as you come to 
them. 

Show each floor or partition that the circuit passes thru by a 
wavy line same as is shown at the building entrance. It is desir¬ 
able also to estimate roughly the length of the run between each 
floor or partition. That may be shown by a flgure with a circle 
around it or may be shown by dimension arrows. 

STARTERS. 

It is necessary that the starters be of the type approved in the 
code. 

All A. C. Starters for squirrel cage motors should be equipped 
with overload relays. They are simple of operation and fuse 
trouble is eliminated. 

In new work all starters which control motors of 5 H. P. or 
over shall be equipped with low voltage release. In old installations 
motors driving fans or such machinery which can be shut down 
and started at will without danger of choke up or injury to workman 
may be controlled by starters which are not equipped with low 
voltage relays. They will be required on starters controlling motors 
driving elevator legs, feed mills and such machinery.. The idea is 
that if the power should go down, the motor would stop, but the 
grain will continue to flow choking the machinery. When the 
power came back, the motor would attempt to start, resulting in a 
slipping belt, which is a very serious fire hazard, or burn out 
motor in case the fuses do not blow. If the fuses blow frequently, 
the operator will substitute larger ones which offer no protection. 
Low voltage relays will trip the motor off the line when the voltage 
goes down to a certain pre-determined point, which eliminates the 
possibility of fire from this hazard. 

Some types of overload relays have exposed connections on the 
back of them which are very bad from a fire standpoint. Probably 
the best way to remedy this defect is to mount these relays in a 
metal cabinet setting down on the top of the starter. Figure 15, 
page 88, shows the proper arrangement for this. This cut also 
shows the proper way to protect fuses which are mounted over the 
starter on a separate panel. 

In some of the new types of starters, the relays are enclosed 
inside the case. It is desirable in such installations, to have the 
conduit enter the case of the starter as shown in figure 15, page 88. 

Motors of 5 H.P. or less do not require an auto starter They 
should be controlled by a safety type starter or by a double throw 
induction motor starter using a spring so that it cannot be left in 
the starting position. When these motors are driving grain legs 
or such equipment that may be easily choked it will be required 
to have them controlled by a starter equipped with low voltage 
release. 

Slip ring motors or motors using resistance type starters 
which cannot be equipped with low-voltage release should have an 
oil switch in their circuit which is so equipped. 

In some convenient place give the full name plate rating of the 
motors and any other desirable information. 


88 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 



Cooler/f 
£>? trance 


4 /7ufc Smarter /r/VA 
r<s/ays or Ec/ses 


E?iS/?r>/r? g 

r&&&<<' 


> n /^SS£> or- 
^Uj ms/ s?y 

c<?J?/rjeT. 



s^v/0 <Sf *'///) 

*i/se*s 0/7 \So/?//r’/7~/‘e 
/2&/?e/ 



<Z'o/7c/c//J‘ 
£/7?r-a/7 c «s . 

Orer/oao/ 


O (JH7/-/(£>r zr///? 


yt^orf^'/' 'SG/0&r’orfez 


No. 1—Auto starter with relays or fuses inside. 

No. 2—Auto starter with fuses on separate panel. Cut out bottom 
of cabinet so it will fit around connection board tight to top of 
starter, with no exposed wire between. 

^°- 3 Auto starter with relays on separate panel. If relays come 
on panel, remove from panel and mount on outside of door of a metal 
cabinet set on auto starter as shown by No. 3 above. All wiring to 
be inside cabinet and conduit to enter cabinet. 


Figure 15. 


Bureau Standard 511. 





























ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS 


89 


MOTORS. 

The squirrel cage motor is one of the most satisfactory motors 
for installation in a flour mill or grain elevator, where the dust is 
one of the principal considerations. This type of motor has no 
sliding contact or bare exposed connections. However, in dusty or 
damp locations, it is necessary to enclose it reasons for which are 
explained under “why motors shall be enclosed”. Familiar types 
of the squirrel cage motor, are the G. E. Form “K”, Westinghouse 
Type CS or CCL, the Fairbanks B&H, the Allis type “AN” and the 
Wagner type “M.” 

Slip-ring motors for our purpose will be considered as motors 
having sliding contacts used in running or starting. When a motor 
is started there is an abnormal surge of current thru the rotor 
windings. In the slip ring motor, the internal windings are con¬ 
nected to a resistance either internal or external. This resistance 
tends to cut down the starting current. When the starter is in 
running position, there is no current thru this resistance. Since 
most of these motors use a drum type controller, which is on 
the rotor circuit, it is impossible to equip them with overload and 
low voltage relays. For that reason, an oil switch which is so 
equipped is required in the primary circuit. 

The principal* hazard from this type of motor is in the sliding 
contact and in the fact that the controller may be left in a starting 
position, thereby causing the resistance to heat. For that reason, 
these motors are always required to be enclosed. Familiar types 
of this motor are the G. E. Form “M”; the Westinghouse types CW 
and HF, the Fairbanks type “BV”; or “BH”; and the Allis type 
“ANY”. 

Internal resistance motors, such as G. E. Form L, have no 
legitimate place in a flour mill or elevator. These motors have 
a resistance inside of the rotor which is in operation at the time of 
starting. When the motor is up to speed, a lever or other mechani¬ 
cal device is used to short-circuit the windings. This short circuit 
device may become pitted or corroded and stick, so that part of the 
resistance may be left in the circuit at all times. The resistance 
then heats, causing a very serious fire hazard. 

There is a type of internal resistance motors, such as the 
Fairbanks KBV or KBH which is safe for our use. The resist¬ 
ance in this type of motor, consists of a series of carbon discs 
enclosed in a sealed tube. As the motor comes up to speed, the 
centrifugal action causes these discs to become tightly compressed, 
thereby cutting out their resistance. This arrangement is entirely 
automatic and there is no exposed contact or bare connections 
what-so-ever. This type of motor requires simply an oil switch for 
starting, as is shown in the sketch. There is a type of motor such 
as the Wagner type BW which has an automatic device whereby 
two or more rotor coils are connected together in series when 
starting. When the motor comes up to speed the coils are auto¬ 
matically connected in multiple. 

This motor rates the same as a slip ring motor. 


90 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


For starting it requires an oil switch equipped with over load 
relays and low voltage release as shown in figure 16. 


S#OORC.QG. 

, /uses / tr/re. 

—1 / _ 

I H x*/*?- 

rt/f ss/r/fc/? /r/ff? 

/. o/r /rp/f*#* 
/?£>/<? *7£7/7 or 

eser/oa// S'/me 


O 




Je/f or/Zufo/vat/'c 
Sfart/rt* (//iters?*/ 
/Res/star? cejMotor 


Figure 16. 

Bureau Standard 591f. 


The above installation is required for all self-starting motors 
of the internal resistance or coil connecting type such as the Wag¬ 
ner BW, Fairbanks, Morse KBV, Century automatic starting and 
others. 



Figure 17. 


























ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS 


91 


Direct current motors are subject to severe sparking and for 
that reason must be enclosed. Resistance type starters usually 
used in connection with them may heat and hence must be enclosed. 


Where motors are out of sight from the starter, it is required 
that there be an emergency switch at the motor. There are two 
reasons for this requirement. 1st—In case any one is working on 
the motor, it is a protection. 2nd.—When an operator discovers 
anything wrong with the motor, it provides a means for shutting 
the motor down at once and this is the point in which we are par¬ 
ticularly interested. One of the easiest and simplest means of fulfill¬ 
ing our requirement is to run the low voltage release circuit to a 
push button or snap switch located at the motor. 

It must be kept in mind that the push button or snap switch 
does not fulfill the first requirement in that it does not protect 
anyone working on the motor. To do that requires a line switch. 
If these various points covered are set down as you come to them 
the remainder of your sketch may be similar to figure 17. 

If your sketch is built up step by step from beginning to end 
in a logical order there is nothing particularly complicated about 
it. The final diagram should look as shown in figure 18. 

Low voltage release is required in all cases. Relays are not 
absolutely required but if not used fuses must be running size and 
the time feature of relays is needed in most cases. 


The low voltage protection is necessary because of the nature 
of the load found in flour mills and grain elevators. If the voltage 
becomes low so that the speed falls below normal, the machines and 
elevators will choke and must be cleaned out before being placed 
in operation again. 


GENERAL DISCUSSION OF MOTOR ENCLOSURES. 

What Motors Shall Be Enclosed. 

All direct current motors and all alternating current motors 
using slip rings or sliding contacts in starting or running must 
be enclosed when located in any building where grain or grain 
products are handled. All other types of motors must be enclosed 
when located in dusty or damp places. By special permission en¬ 
closures may be omitted in fire resistive building. 

IF IT IS DESIRED TO ELIMINATE ALL POWER CHARGES, 
THEN ALL MOTORS MUST BE ENCLOSED, except sewing ma¬ 
chine motors or similar motors without brushes or sliding contacts, 
rated not exceeding 5 H. P. which cannot be satisfactorily enclosed 
and are mounted so that they are under the eye of the operator at 
all times when running. 


92 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


* 



Figure 18 . 






























ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS 


93 


Wliy Motors Should Be Enclosed. 


Direct current motors and all alternating current motors using 
slip rings or sliding contacts often throw sparks. The hazard of 
sparks in a flour mill or grain elevator is too well understood to 
need further discussion. In addition, these motors are subject to 
the same hazards as squirrel cage motors. 

The hazards of the squirrel cage motor are better understood 
by the examination of a motor. If you look at a squirrel cage motor, 
you will find slots and openings in the windings and frame for 
the circulation of air to dissipate the heat generated by the current 
passing through the wires. Now, if these slots or openings are full 
of dust and the motor is running with any sort of a load, how is 
this heat going to get away? It isn’t. Therefore the windings will 
be cooked and the insulation will be spoiled, resulting in a burned 
out motor. The result will be the same as if the motor were over¬ 
loaded. 

By a proper motor enclosure, a very active fire hazard is 
eliminated and the LIFE OF THE MOTOR INCREASED. 


What the Enclosure Shall Accomplish. 

The first consideration is to protect the motor from dust. That 
implies that the enclosure shall be dust proof. 

All motors require ventilation, hence clean fresh air must be 
provided in the enclosure. 

All motors need care and attention, hence the enclosures shall 
be roomy and provide that the motor be accessible from all sides. 

All motors and electrical equipment are more or less of a fire 
hazard, hence the enclosure should protect the property from them 
in case of trouble. 

In short, the motor enclosure should be dust proof, fire resist¬ 
ive, accessible and well ventilated. 

SPECIFICATIONS FOR MOTOR ENCLOSURES. 

The best construction for motor enclosures from an economical 
and practical standpoint is metal lath and cement plaster on wood 
studding. 

To build this enclosure—construct a framework of 2"x4" (as 
shown in figure 20, page 94, about six feet high and large enough to 
enable the operator to get around the motor. The inside of this 
framework shall be covered with metal lath weighing about 2% 
pounds per square yard. The metal lath comes about 20" wide and 
the studding should be spaced accordingly. If it is desired to make 
a finished job, the metal lath may be put around the outside of the 
studding, as shown in figure 22, page 95. Plaster with cement 
plaster. The floor shall be covered with about 2 inches of concrete. 

The mixture of plaster for outside work is one part Portland 
cement and 2V 2 parts of sharp, clean sand and hydrated lime equal 
to 10 per cent, by volume of the cement. A small amount of hair 
may be added. For inside work the most satisfactory plaster is or¬ 
dinary pulp plaster mixed with 25 per cent. Portland cement. 

Provide a door, for ventilation, and for a pulley or belt 
opening. 

The door shall be two ply wood covered with metal. It shall 
be hung so that it will close tightly and be self-closing. This may 
be done by weights but better by a sloping track as is used for fire 
doors. 


94 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 



5 k 


I 0 


k 


O M| 


O N 




Q ? 


n 

m 


Bureau Standard 614- 










ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS 


95 



Figure 22. 

Bureau Standard 614- 


Ventilation is essential. A pipe (not less than 6 inches in di¬ 
ameter and larger for large motors) shall enter the bottom of the 
room and connect with outside clean air. Another pipe shall leave 
from the top of the room going to outside. Motor rooms in base¬ 
ment may be ventilated by running the outlet pipe up the building 
for about 20 feet. The difference in height between inlet and outlet 
will give sufficient draft. Only in exceptional cases is a fan neces¬ 
sary. An examination of your motor when running will show air 
entering on the side and leaving the motor either by the other side 
or through the frame. If the inlet pipe is brought close to the 
draft side, the motor will help draw in cool air. Finished room is 
shown by figure 21, page 94. 

It is better, if the type of motor will permit, to have the pulley* 
and belt on the outside of the room. This may be done by leaving 
a hole in the wall large enough to permit the pulley to pass through. 
This hole can then be covered with two pieces of plaster board or 
wood fiber cut out to fit around the shaft or bearing. These may 
be slotted and fastened on with thumb nuts or slide in grooves. 
They should slide horizontally, so that they can follow up as the 
motor is moved on its base to tighten the belt See figure 23, 
page 96. 

Where motors are located near walls or in corners, two sides 
and ceiling are all that would be required, as the building wall may 
be covered with the lath and plaster. 

The shape of the room is easily varied to suit conditions, such 
as sloping roofs and bin bottoms. 









96 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 



Small motors hung from ceilings may be protected by an asbes¬ 
tos building lumber enclosure. This lumber may be purchased in 
sheets and sawed and worked like any other lumber. One fourth 
inch is found to be the most suitable thickness. The asbestos 
should be placed between the motor and ceiling. See figure 24. 


Figure 2\. 

Bureau Standard 61 J t. 





cur * -5" 

£A/Ci-OSURE fOH AU.JL 
/*10T0# MUSVQ mot* CC/X.//* C*. 

ATTRITION MILL MOTOR ENCLOSURES. 


Attrition mill motors require special attention in order to com¬ 
ply with the standard motor installation and protect the motors 
from the excessive dust found around such installations. Various 
arrangements have been tried. 

The one pictured below is being used successfully in a mill in 
Ohio. The top half is hinged on the back and the ventilation duct 
at the top can be detached for opening the case for inspection of the 
motor. Note that all bearings are outside and accessible. 

Ventilation is obtained by an inlet duct that enters from outside 
air on the back side near the bottom. The upper pipe vents to out¬ 
side. The vents are 5". 

The enclosure is made of 18 gauge iron. See figure 25. 



























ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS 


97 



Figure 25. 

Bureau Standard 61J t . 














98 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY. 

There may be some hazard from lightning coming in on the 
wires. To protect against this the following regulations should be 

observed: ,, . _ 

1st: The pole or tower must be thoroughly grounded with not 
less than #4 copper wire at each point where it touches the build¬ 
ing. This grounding must be in accordance with the provisions 
under grounding in the code. 

2nd: The sending wire or wire carrying current to the top of 
the pole must be kept entirely clear of the building and must be so 
installed that when swaying in the wind, or when stationary, it will 
be at all times closer to the grounded pole or tower than it is to 
the building so that any discharge from this wire will pass to 
ground thru the ground wire rather than thru the building. At the 
operators station this wire should be connected by a double throw 
switch to the apparatus and to ground so that when the equipment 
is not being used this sending wire can be grounded. 

3rd: If the operators station is in the building or on the roof 
it shall be in a fire resistive room built as outlined under motor 
enclosures. The wire entering this room shall be so installed that 
it is at all times nearer to a permanent ground than it is to a 
combustible material. The idea is to have any discharge that may 
occur go to the ground by way of a ground wire rather than thru 
the building. 

ELECTRIC LIGHTING. 

The general requirement regarding entrance and outside wir¬ 
ing fuses, switches, and interior wiring as outlined, apply to electric 
light circuits also. In addition, the following special features 
should be noted. 

GENERATOR. 

Generators should be enclosed unless located in the power 
house or some detached building. 

SERIES LIGHTING. 

Lights are not permitted in series, since in a case if one light 
is put out of commission, it subjects the remaining lights to ab¬ 
normal voltage. 

THREE WIRE CIRCUITS. 

Three wire lighting circuits are not permitted, since that in¬ 
stallation may be equivalent to having two lights in series. 

TROLLEY CIRCUITS. 

Lights are not permitted to be taken from trolley circuits, since 
that is usually 500 V. or more and is subject to a great deal of 
fluctuation, and may at times be subject to abnormal voltage. 
Where trolley circuits are used for lighting purposes, it is usually 
customary to install the lights in series. That of course, is not 
permitted. 

ROSETTES. 

Screw type rosettes, or those having a fuse in the base, are not 
permitted because of the dust hazard. The dust has a tendency to 
collect on these rosettes. The vibration of the mill often causes 
the screws to loosen up which results in arcing at the connection. 
This arc has, in many cases, set fire to the dust. Drop cords must 
be soldered direct to the line wires and the connection taped. A 
one-piece type ceiling button should be used to take the weight of 
the drop cord. The idea is to do away with the screw and the bare 
connections. 


ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS 99 


/c/*- /'o/faae 
Co//. 7 



<S /<? /^ / //?</ Zt/seo 


f? u/?r?/ng fuse^S' 


A/ofc:- 

Afs/rore a /? ft/oe c/ufo 

SY&rfer /& t/si ^if the 
/ow co// mt/sf 

/?e 00/7/7 ec/et/ //? ft/seJ 
/es/fes fc /?re>/'e/?f 
■S//?#/e /p/?&Lse o^oor-af/on 


Figure 26. 

Bureau Standard 591. 


DROP CORDS AND PORTABLE CORDS. 

A reinforced cord is recommended for all drop cords. Portable 
extension cords are required to be of packing house cord, the idea 
being that ordinary cotton covered cord wears thru by use and may 
Lecome short circuited. In that case, the top covering will burn 
freely and of course, constitutes a very serious hazard. 

LAMPS. 

All lamps are to be supported in a pendant position. Lamps in 
a horizontal position may become dust covered and as such offer 
slight hazard. Nitrogen filled lamps heat to a very high temperature 
and are therefore not suitable for general use unless in dust proof 
fixtures. They are however, permitted in power houses and offices 
without protection. 

All lamps should be provided with metal guards which will 
prevent them from being easily broken. 

The proper illumination of a flour mill is by a few units of high 
candle power lamps rather than by a great many lamps of small 
candle power. 

Gas filled lamps may be used in dust proof receptacles. In 
Power Houses, Offices and similar dustless locations they may be 
installed open. 200 watt gas filled lamps in proper fixtures with 
reflectors have been found to be the most satisfactory and eco¬ 
nomical size and will replace from three to six ordinary small 
units. 














100 


THE FIELDMEN'S MANUAL 


STANDARD INSTALLATION OF FARM LIGHTING PLANTS. 

STANDARD INSTALLATION FOR 30, 60 OR 110 VOLT LIGHTING 

SYSTEM. 

1. Generating equipment and storage batteries to be installed 
in fire resistive room. 

2. Generator room built of brick, concrete tile, or metal lath 
and cement plaster on steel studding. 

3. No openings between generator room and mill or elevator 
or additions unless opening is protected by a standard self closing 
fire door. 

4. Ample ventilation to be provided preferably by vent pipe 
near floor and ventilator through roof. 

5. Main feeder and branch circuits to be installed in conduit. 

6 . Drop cords, sockets and lighting fixtures to' be of standard 
type, 

7. Branch circuit fuses and switches to be installed in metal 
cabinet. 

8 . Wiring must be installed in accordance with the Standard of 
the Flour Mill and Grain Elevator Insurance Companies. 

Note—Engines of this type usually have gasoline tank in base. 

Wire sizes shall be made extra heavy to provide for the voltage 
drop due to the heavy currents. 

Unless the wires are extra heavy the voltage at the end of a 
line will be below normal. 

If equipment is installed in accordance with above rules, no 
charges will be made on insurance rate. 

See figure 27 for proper enclosure. 



Figure 21. 

Bureau Standard 801. 












































ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS 


101 


STATIC ELECTRICITY. 

Static electricity is often developed on large belts and bear¬ 
ings, and unless it is collected and run to ground, trouble may 
result. The theory is that this electricity is generated by a slight 
slipping of the belt on the pulley. Should conditions be right, and 
a contact made in the presence of dust, an explosion would be in 
order. Some people claim that the so-called static electricity is 
not dangerous, but since it has been known to ignite oily waste 
we know that it would also ignite dust. 

Figure 28 shows a static collector for use on charged belts, 
both front and side view, with accompanying description. 

Safety guards around roll pulleys should also be grounded 
as well as other special places where current may be induced from 
running machinery. 

It has been definitely proven that the epidemic of fires in 
cotton gins throughout the state of Texas in the summer of 1915 
was the direct result of static electricity. It is also stated with 
authority that a majority of fires occurring in threshing machines, 
a common occurance in the west, are caused from static electricity 
within the machines themselves. 




Figure 28. 
Bureau Standard 83. 

















































































: - 




. 



. ’’ 










■ 








■ ■= ■ • ■ • ■ 


fe)M£k 










































CHAPTER VII 

POWER (EXCEPT ELECTRIC) 







« 












POWER (EXCEPT ELECTRIC) 111 

CHAPTER YII. 

POWER (EXCEPT ELECTRIC). 

STEAM POWER. 

The principal hazards from steam power house in connection 
with flour mills and grain elevators are spark hazards, breaching 
too close to wood work, insufficient clearance around stack, hand¬ 
ling of ashes, junk on or around boilers, and storage of coal. 

SPARK HAZARDS: To eliminate the spark hazard, the stack 
must be first class in every respect, and extend at least six feet 
above the highest point of exposed roof. The spark hazard is, of 
course, increased by shingle roofs, loose iron cladding, broken 
siding, and broken window lights, but this subject is covered under 
other chapters. 

STACK AND BREACHING CLEARANCE: There should be at 
least ten inches clearance between a metal stack where it passes 
through roof and combustible material, and ventilation should also 
be provided. The best means of giving ventilation is as illustrated 
in figure 29. There should be at least fourteen inches clearance 
between a breaching from a steam boiler and combustible material. 
Frame roofs have been known to have ignited at sixteen and eigh¬ 
teen inches from a metal breaching when a boiler has been fired 
with cobs, but fourteen inches is at present the minimum clearance. 



Afof*/ £y#cA f/>ru Campust/6/e /?oo£ 


Figure 29. 

Bureau Standard 804- 










112 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


BOILER CLEARANCE: In frame power house there should be 
at least thirty inches clearance between boiler setting and side 
wall. If coal storage is adjacent to boiler it is important that not 
only the thirty inch clearance ruling be enforced but that the 
side of coal bin be so constructed that coal cannot spill over into 
space. Bituminous coal is subject to spontaneous combustion, 
and the heat of the boiler increases this hazard. 

The top of the boiler should be kept free from all rubbish 
and accumulation of dust and coal soot. The top of the boiler 
is not ordinarily hot enough to cause ignition, but a combination 
of steady firing and poor ventilation, or a crack in the brick cover¬ 
ing of boiler will make it so. 

HANDLING OF ASHES: Fires are still occasionally reported 
from the placing of hot ashes in combustible receptacles or piling 
them against a frame partition. The safe way is, of course, to 
either provide metal cans and place these metal cans on non¬ 
combustible floor well away from wood partition or wall, or pro¬ 
vide a storage with concrete walls and concrete floor. 

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION IN COAL: The following sug¬ 
gestions are offered for safety in storing bituminous coal, although 
some of them may prove impractical or too expensive under certain 
conditions: 

1. Store coal, if possible, well away from the main buildings 
of the plant. Never pile it against frame buildings. The storage 
ground selected should not be of marshy nature or subject to ex¬ 
cessive drainage from other sources. Avoid admission of air to 
interior of pile through interstices around foreign objects such as 
timbers or irregular brick work or through porous bottoms such 
as course cinders. 

2. Do not store near external sources of heat even though 
the heat transmitted be moderate. 

3. The height of the piles should be limited to 12 feet, with 
a maximum of 16 feet for exceptional conditions. 

4. Pile so that lump and fine are distributed as evenly as pos¬ 
sible, not allowing lump to roll down from the peak to form air 
passages at the bottom of the pile. 

TEMPERATURE READINGS. 

In coal with a tendency toward heating the temperature rises 
are comparatively gradual and if detected in time, complete com¬ 
bustion may be prevented by rehandling. If the ignition point is 
reached, a fire may burn for a considerable time in the interior 
of the pile before it becomes apparent from the outside. For the 
detection and prevention of fire, the installation of hollow iron 
pipes staggered every 50 feet through the piles, driven within a 
foot or so of the bottom, will permit the lowering of a thermometer. 
These pipes should be pointed and closed at the bottom to facili¬ 
tate their installation and provided with a stopper for the opening 
at the top to prevent the admission of air. 

FROM PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY* INSURANCE 

DEPARTMENT. 

In 1915, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company laid in at some 
twenty different locations, a supply of a million and a half tons 
of bituminous coal valued at something over two million dollars. In 


POWER (EXCEPT ELECTRIC) 


113 


°y e r a year not a single loss was experienced, believed to be attrib¬ 
utable in a large measure to the adoption of certain precautions. 

A supply proportionate to its average consumption was stored 
on each division at some point where it neither offered nor wa 3 
subject to exposure from adjoining property. 


Bituminous coal used by railroads is generally of two kinds, 
the ordinary freight locomotive coal and the more gaseous or vola¬ 
tile for passenger locomotives. Of the two, the likelihood of spon¬ 
taneous combustion is believed to be greater in the former, as 
oxidation has a tendency to increase as the fineness of the coal 
approaches that of dust, particularly when mixed with lump coal 
of such a size that the interstices permit the flow of a moderate 
amount of air into the interior of the pile. This conclusion is 
borne out somewhat by comparative temperature readings which 
indicated an average excess of 10 degrees. In other words, the 
high volatile matter in coal does not of itself increase the liability 
of coal to spontaneous heating. 

Where pipes are installed it is a good practice to take tempera¬ 
ture readings three times a week during the warmer months and 
once or twice a month in winter. At several points where the 
coal was stored near shop plants, temperature readings were taken 
daily. The charts of these daily readings for a period of nine 
months developed many interesting facts, for instance, in one 
pile of coal where the readings in 19 other pipes were almost iden¬ 
tical in 3 of the pipes in the same pile the temperature showed 
an average excess of 20° over the other pipes, believed to have 
been due to marshy ground under that portion of the pile in which 
the 3 pipes were located. At another storage point where the 
temperature averaged about 40° F. at 27 pipes, at one pipe in the 
pile a temperature of almost 50° above the average was recorded, 
with a maximum of about 112°. This condition was believed to 
be due to the collection of gases in a pocket formed by large 
lumps of coal in the interior of the pile. The maximum tempera¬ 
ture allowed was 150°, or, if the temperature remained constant 
at an unusually high point, instructions were issued to rehandle 
the coal. If once rehandled, coal seldom heats spontaneously again. 
The highest temperature recorded was 138°, and as far as we 
know, it was unnecessary to rehandle any of the coal. 

POWER HOUSE CONSTRUCTION: Fire resistive construc¬ 
tion is understood to mean solid concrete and brick walls, roof, 
and floor, or brick or concrete with metal on metal I beams roof, 
(no wood permitted in the construction). The openings from such 
a power house to other parts of the plant must be protected with 
standard fire doors or wire glass windows. This, of course, is 
the ideal construction and takes the lowest rate. 

All power houses should be cut off from the mill as much as 
possible, consequently in brick or similarly constructed power 
houses, all communicating openings should be protected by standard 
fire doors or shutters. 


114 


THE FIELDMEN ? S MANUAL 


COB HOUSES: There is a distinct hazard in the storage and 
handling of cobs for fuel. They may be stored in a well built, 
substantial cob room having a cement floor, and should be spouted 
into this room through a metal spout open at top for a space of 
two or three feet where it enters the cob house, so that fire cannot 
back up the spout to the elevator. Shucks and dust must not be 
stored in the same room. The cobs must not be permitted to 
accumulate around the boiler and some provision must be made 
to keep them from flowing into the boiler room while being shoveled. 
For this purpose an inside partition or room about 4' x 4' x 6' should 
be built of removable slats and with sloping roof at the opening 
from power house to cob house. 

A better way to handle the cobs is in a fire resistive boiler 
room with a fire resistive cob room over the roof, having a metal 
spout reaching nearly to the floor of the boiler room. This will 
permit the cobs to flow only as fast-as they are used. The spout 
to the cob room should be open for about three feet on top where 
it goes through room to eliminate the possibility of the cobs back¬ 
ing up into the elevator when the room is full, and communicating 
the fire in case the cobs should become ignited in the cob room. 

Cobs and litter should be carefully cleaned up from the floor 
between the cob room and boiler, but the sweeping should always 
be done from the cob room to the boiler, otherwise sparks from 
the boiler may be swept back into the cob room. 

GAS AND OIL. ENGINE HAZARD. 

The hazard from internal combustion engines may properly 
be divided into two general classes. 

1. There are certain inherent hazards from the engines them¬ 
selves, which are largely determined by their construction and 
installation, and which are not under the direct control of the 
operator. 

2. Then there is the hazard in the handling of the fuel and 
care of the equipment. That is under the direct control of the 
operator, and as such, the human element enters in, and conse¬ 
quently it is of primary importance. Our rules governing the 
installation of these engines were promulgated to guard against 
these hazards, and the construction and installation has been fairly 
well standardized, but the fuel is handled by the operator, and 
careless handling of fuel has probably been responsible for more 
fires than the inherent hazard of the engine itself, and that partic¬ 
ular point should be carefully checked up by the inspector. 

Before going further into detail, a short discussion of internal 
combustion engines will be beneficial. 

An internal combustion engine is one in which the fuel, used 
for the generation of power, is burned Within the power cylinder. 
There, are two general types of this engine. One is operated on 
what is known as the Otto Cycle, and the other on what is known 
as the Deisel Cycle, and practically all internal combustion engines 
used in connection with our work, are of one type or the other, 
or some modification of them. 


POWER (EXCEPT ELECTRIC) 


115 


On either engine, the events of the cycles are. (1) suction, (2) 
compression, (3) combustion of the fuel or explosion, (4) expan¬ 
sion, (5) exhaust then repeat. A four cycle engine is one in which 
all the events or one cycle is completed in four strokes of the 
piston or two revolutions of the flywheel. Likewise the two cycle 
engine is one in which the events are completed in two strokes 
of the piston or one revolution of the flywheel. 

In the Otto cycle, air and fuel are drawn into the cylinder 
at the first stroke and are compressed during the second stroke. 
Ignition takes place near the end of the second stroke and is 
caused by some external means, such as an electric spark. The 
automobile engine is a good example of this type. 

In the Diesel cycle, air only is drawn into the cylinder during 
the first stroke. During the second stroke, air only is compressed 
to a very high pressure resulting in a great temperature increase. 
This pressure may run as high as 500 pounds per sq. in. and the 
temperature to' 1200° F. At the end of the second stroke and early 
in the third stroke, the fuel is injected into the cylinder and burns 
as fast as it comes in. The important point to remember is that 
the temperature of compression (1200° F.) is sufficient to cause 
the ignition of the fuel. No external means is necessary. In our 
work, we find comparatively few engines of the Diesel type, but 
a modification known as the Semi-Diesel type is very common. 
The Fairbanks type “Y” is a good example of this. 

The Semi-Diesel engine does not develop high enough com¬ 
pression to produce ignition, so ignition is aided by some other 
means, usually in the nature of a “hot ball,” which is heated by 
external means to start with, but which furnishes its own heat 
when once in operation. This type must not be confused with the 
old hot tube or torch ignition engine. 

The Diesel engine can be operated on most kinds of fuel oil, 
but due to its high compression it must be very strongly built, 
and requires a very substantial compression to introduce the fuel 
into the cylinder against the compression pressure of 500 pounds, 
or more. It also requires compressed air or some other auxiliary 
means for starting. For these reasons, the Semi-Diesel type is 
favored, since it is much simpler of construction and contains 
many of the advantages of the Diesel type. However, it has one 
very objectionable feature. It is necessary to heat the “hot ball’' 
before starting. That is usually done by means of a gasoline torch 
and therein lies the danger. The ball itself is protected by a cap, 
and although there is some element of danger, that is not regarded 
as serious. The hazard is in the handling of the torch, and since 
that is handled by the operator, he is the man to talk to. Ask 
him what precaution he uses. Discuss the subject with him and 
impress him with the necessity of carefully handling it. 

Since the fuel is not injected until the end of the second stroke 
preignition cannot occur in the Diesel engine, and since there is 
no carburetor, back firing cannot occur, and therein lies a de¬ 
cided advantage, from a fire prevention standpoint. 


116 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


FUEL SUPPLY. 

One important point to be considered in either type of engine, 
is the fuel supply. All Otto cycle engines (or any engine using 
gasoline for fuel) must have pump feed. Diesel engines may have 
pump feed or they may have gravity feed to the injector pump, 
provided they are installed as shown in figure 30. 

With the increased price of gasoline, there has been a general 
attempt on the part of manufacturers to perfect a means whereby 
gasoline engines can be run on oil. Unfortunately the compression 
cannot be easily changed. Kerosene requires a lower compression 
temperature than gasoline. This can be accomplished by intro¬ 
ducing water, with the kerosene, which reduces the temperature. 
By this means, gasoline engines can be operated successfully on 
kerosene when they are once warmed up. They are usually warmed 
up by starting on gasoline. Several carburetors are on the market 
using gasoline to start on, which, when the engine is warmed up, 
can be switched to kerosene. There is no particular hazard when 
the fuel is handled as specified in the schedule. There may be 
considerable hazard, however, if gasoline is squirted by hand into 
the mixing chamber. Even that method for starting the engine is 
too slow for some of the elevator operators, so they warm up by 
burning gasoline on the outside of the cylinder, or by building a 
fire under it. That may satisfy the operator, but it does not the 
Insurance Companies. 

Either convince the operator of the error of his ways, or re¬ 
lieve your Company of liability. Of course, the former is prefer¬ 
able, because cancellation should never be resorted to except as a 
means of last resort, but that practice is so inexcusable, that it 
does not admit of any compromise. 

HOT TUBE ENGINES. 

Hot tube engines are not permitted except in fire resistive 
power houses. This engine is so far out of date that it is nearly 
obsolete, and anybody using one now should be regarded with 
suspicion. This type of engine must not be confused with the 
Semi-Diesel type using a torch for starting. 

TANK IN BASE. 

The chief hazard of these engines is that gasoline in them is 
in the building. It must be carried in and poured in the tank by 
hand. The handling of the fuel is the chief danger, and is enough 
to warrant the special charge which they take. When located 
in dusty or dirty places the hazard is sufficient to warrant you in 
declining to' recommend the risk. 

EXHAUST PIPE. 

The exhaust pipe and muffler may be coated with carbon or 
soot, either dry or oily. The hot gases exhausting thru this accumu¬ 
lation may cause it to burn or even explode, which may heat the 
pipe red hot. Even under normal conditions, the exhaust pipe 
may be very hot, hence it must always be protected. It must be 
kept at least six inches from all combustible material and where 
it passes thru partitions, side walls, floor or roof, must be pro¬ 
vided with a ventilating thimble, allowing a clearance all around 
of six inches. This clear space is important. We have often seen 
exhaust pipes run thru a frame side wall with a supposed insula- 


POWER (EXCEPT ELECTRIC) 


117 



ARRnrtGEMEn T \ PFOT&C T/Ofi 
or OIL. FEED RIPinO FOP 
FLO/T FEED 

'SPEC/fU- PERFI/SS/OrV REQUIRED. -SEE SPEC / FtCATIO/VC. 

Figure 30. 

Bureau Standard 639. 



/&;&/ 

































118 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


tion of brick, cement, asbestos, or some such material around it. 
It looks nice, but it is a decided hazard. We have had many fires 
caused by heat being transmitted thru such material to the wood 
work. Insist on the clear space. See figure 31. 

In oil engines, the exhaust pot and exhaust pipe must be given 
special attention. There is always more or less of an accumulation 
of heavy oil or very oily carbon which collects in the exhaust 
pot. This will burn out sooner or later and heat the pot and 
pipe red hot. We have seen the results of several fires and near 
fires from this cause. In one particular case, bags were set on 
fire over a foot away from the pipe. These engines, should, if 
possible, have their exhaust lead from the exhaust pot under 
ground and on a slight slope, ending near a gutter or incline, so 
the residue will drain away from the building. If that is not pos¬ 
sible, there should be a pit outside the building with the exhaust 
pipe entering horizontally under ground, and leaving the top in a 
vertical position, and extending in the air six feet higher than 
any exposed roofs. This exhaust pit should be as far away from 
the building as possible, and should have a loose cover as near 
the size of the pit as possible, loosely fastened by bolts so that 
it can be raised at least a foot, but no higher. This cover is to 
provide a means of release, in case of a fire or explosion. This 
pit should be drained. 

A pet cock at bottom of exhaust pot to be opened when engine 
it not running is advisable if the arrangement is such that exhaust 
pot does not drain automatically. 

Keep in mind that the idea is to drain the residue away from 
the building and get it into the open, if possible. 

GAS PRODUCER POWER. 

The operation of the gas producer is usually not very well 
understood by the layman. A short discussion of it will be of 
great advantage in measuring its hazards. 

In the usual process of gas making, coal is subjected to destruc¬ 
tive distillation, heat being furnished by an exterior fire and leav¬ 
ing coke as residue. Another process is to pass a small quantity 
of air with or without steam or vapor thru a thick bed of fuel. 
The coke, instead of remaining as a by-product, is utilized in mak¬ 
ing the gas. This is the principle of the gas producer. 

The majority of gas producers in use in this country, are one 
of three types, viz; suction type, pressure type, down draft type, 
or a combination of these. 

For units below three hundred (300) horse power, the suction 
type is particularly suitable, and it is the one with which we are 
principally concerned. 

Suction producers usually consist of three elements—the gas 
producer or furnace; the steam generator or boiler; the gas cleaner 
or scrubber. To start operations, a fire of wood is made on the 
grate of the producer, the air necessary for combustion being sup¬ 
plied by a hand blower. As soon as the fire is “going" good, the 
gas producing fuel is added. The generation of gas starts at once, 
but the gas is of rather poor quality. This quality can be roughly 
tested by lighting the gas at a small test cock. The color of the 
flame indicates the quality of the gas. The 'smoke and poor gas 


POWER (EXCEPT ELECTRIC) 


119 


formed during starting is discharged to the outside by purge pipe 
As soon as the gas becomes of the proper quality, the engine is 
started and the hand air pump stopped. The suction of the cylinder 
draws the air necessary for combustion thru the producer. The 
gas on the way to the engine is drawn thru the steam generator. 
This gas, being hot, generates steam at low pressure. The steam 
is taken up by the air being drawn into the base of the producer. 
In passing up thru the lower part of the fuel bed, the oxygen 
united with the fuel, causing combustion, and liberating carbon 
dioxide gas and hydrogen. In passing thru the remainder of the 
fuel bed, this carbon dioxide is split up and unites with more 
carbon, forming carbon monoxide. This is the gas used by the 
engine, but on coming from the producer, it is very dirty and 
smoky, so after going thru the steam generator, it is passed thru 
the scrubber. This usually consists of a tall steel or iron cylinder, 
filled with coke, over which water is sprayed. The gas enters 
the bottom, and in working up thru the coke against the spray 
of water, has all the dirt and tar washed out of it. 

Under normal operating conditions, the pressure inside the 
producer is lower than the outside pressure, hence there is very 
little chance for gas to leak out. On starting, however, when the 
hand pump is being used, there is some slight pressure, and the 
gas may leak out or the test cock may be open. The chances of 
this are very small, but we have had some fires which we attribute 
to this cause. The remedy is to require the producer plant in a 
power house, well ventilated and properly cut off from the mill. 

The exhaust pipe presents the same hazard as any gas engine, 
and should be protected accordingly. 

Where pressure systems are used, the gas is usually stored in 
some suitable container and is often used for other purposes than 
power. There is, of course, a serious hazard in that, and such 
plants should be located in detached power houses. 

INSTALLATION RULES. 

The rules covering installation of internal combustion engines 
are fully set forth in the Rating Schedule, pages M-9, 10 and 11. 









CHAPTER VIII 

MACHINERY and SPECIAL HAZARDS 




- 







MACHINERY AND SPECIAL HAZARDS 


121 


CHAPTER Till. 

MACHINERY AND SPECIAL HAZARDS. 

No attempt will be made here to discuss any machinery or 
special hazards not commonly found in flour mills or grain eleva¬ 
tors. When the occupancy is mixed, or the process of storing or 
milling gram is combined in the same building with some other 
class of storage or process of manufacture, the risk must be 
judged on its merits, and report submitted to the office under¬ 
writer. 

GLUE POTS, SOLDERING POTS AND SOLDERING IRONS. 

Glue pots, soldering pots, and soldering irons are necessary 
equipment to any successfully operated flour mill and elevator 
They possess certain hazards just the same as many of the machines 
necessary to the process have certain hazards. Although they 
have some hazard it is a mistake to order then} out indiscriminately, 
just the same as it would be a mistake to order out any necessary 
machine. 

Where electric current is available electric glue pots should 
be used and electric soldering pots and irons may be recom¬ 
mended. However, the latter are not practical for all uses and it 
will usually be necessary also to have one for use in connection 
with a blow torch or gas furnace. 

Electric babbitt kettles are on the market but they, are of 
small capacity and very expensive. In cupolas of elevators and 
other dusty places they add greatly to the safety of babbitting boxes 
and should be recommended. However, if the voltage is low they 
may not get hot enough so that good work can be done and it may 
then be necessary to resort to the gasoline furnace. 

The proper way to combat the hazard of these devices is to 
educate the operators to exercise safety and care in the;*' use 
rather than by making arbitrary requirements impossible of being 
carried out and thereby arousing the animosity of the operator and 
losing his co-operation in other things that are practicable. 

MOISTURE TESTERS. 

There is no objection to the use of a gasoline moisture tester 
such as the Brown Duval, provided it is located in the office, labor¬ 
atory, or some other clean dustless location, and that no gasoline, 
except that in the tank of the tester, be permitted in the room or 
building adjacent thereto. The hazard is more from the careless 
handling of the gasoline than from the tester itself. Some sort of 
moisture tester is essential to' intelligent milling, and their slight 
hazard is not sufficient to prohibit their use. 

GRAIN DRYERS. 

There are two general types of grain driers. The one most 
commonly used consists of a steam generator, which may be and 
usually is the boiler furnishing the steam power and a set of steam 
coils over which the air to be heated is drawn by a large suction fan. 
The grain is contained in a large upright metal drum or column of 
louvres, and the hot air is forced through the grain as it passes 
down through. Another fan forces cold air through the grain as 
it passes through the last section of the drum. 

The hazard from these steam grain driers is in the installa¬ 
tion of the steam generator and from the accumulation of dust 


122 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


in the drier coils. The steam generator should he installed the 
same as a boiler furnishing power. (See Specification in Chapter 
VIII.) To reduce the hazard from the accumulation of dust in 
the coils, a steam connection carrying the full steam pressure should 
be placed in a convenient location and a steam hose attached to it 
with suitable nozzle. With this the dust can be thoroughly 
removed from the interior of the set of coils. This should be done 
frequently, or as often as any quantity of dust accumulates. 


The operator should be cautioned against the practice of first 
turning on the steam and then starting the fans. A large mill 
in Buffalo was set on fire by the operator attempting to heat the 
mill with the drier coils. Three other fires are on record as hav¬ 
ing originated in the drier coil, and in at least two of these three 
cases the steam was turned on before the fan started or left on 
after the fan had b^en stopped. The necessity for clean steam 
coils and the steam being turned on only during the time that the 
fan is running, cannot be emphasized too strongly. 


There is not considered to be any fire hazard in the drums, 
and none in the fans other than that of any fan with fast running 
bearings operating on more or less dust laden air. 


The other general type of grain drier, of which the Randolph 
Drier, (see figure 32) is typical, operates the same in its drying 
processes as the steam dryer, but the generation of heat is entirely 
different. A hard coal burning furnace is used, and the gas and 
some small amount of unburned air brought in over the top of 
the fire, is drawn directly through the grain. A short smoke stack 
is provided for draft while the fire is being started, but as soon 
as the drying begins this is closed, and all gas and smoke passes 
through the grain. The hazard here was supposed to have been 
in the installation of the furnace, and the specifications shown in 
the cut were adopted. Recently one fire has been reported from 
a piece of wood having lodged in the grain outlet stopping the 
flow of grain. Either the grain or the wood, and probably both, 
were fired by the continued action of the heat. The assured should 
be warned against the possibility of foreign material entering the 
drying column and stopping the flow of grain. Each installation 
will present its own problem along this line, but the best remedies 
will probably be found to be either a screen at the point where 
the grain enters the drier, or a scalping shoe in the grain stream 
at about this point. 


GRAIN SEPARATORS. 

There are a large number of makes and kinds of grain sepa¬ 
rators, ranging from the small seed separator with small slow 
running fans to the large ones designed for use in terminals, and 
the fire hazard may be considered to be somewhat proportionate 
to the size. 

Nearly all types of new separators have bearings that are 
well isolated from the fan casing and from the bridgetree, and as 
the fire hazard lies principally in the fan shaft bearings, the new 
are a great improvement over the old types. 


MACHINERY AND SPECIAL HAZARDS 123 





e £.L e ^ 77 cfy 


Figure 82. 

Bureau Standard J t 13. 












































124 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


All metal separators are on the market but have not yet come 
into general use except in fire resistive properties. There is, of 
course, nothing about this machine to burn, and unless a fan 
blade becomes loose and contacts with the fan casing, causing 
sparks to ignite the dust, or a bearing becomes sufficiently hot to 
run the molten babbitt out on the floor, there is no fire hazard 
from this machine. 

Careful examination should be made of all separator bear¬ 
ings, particularly the fan shaft bearings. Bearings in which the 
babbitt is worn to any extent are always dangerous. If the drive 
belt has pulled the bearing to one side, the shaft may be in con¬ 
tact with the metal cupping of the fan casing. This condition is 
particularly hazardous, and the remedy is either a rebabbitted 
bearing or the adjustment of the bearing so that the shaft cen¬ 
ters in the hole as the cupping will get red hot and this condition 
has caused several fires. Old machines, on which the fan shaft 
bearings are close to or in contact with the wooden fan casing, 
may be made safer by installing a sheet iron basin as shown in 
figure 33. 

The separator is a dirty machine at best, and the room in 
which it is located requires constant care and cleaning. If the 
separator is located on the working floor, it is very hard to arrange 
for an automatic means of taking care of the tailings. However, 
they can be spouted into a bag, or if run on the floor can be 
cleaned up daily. If it is necessary to store them, a good sub¬ 
stantial bin or room should be provided. The litter and dust from 
the separator should not be permitted to accumulate. 

The McDaniels Oats Separator is typical of one type of machine 
which has no fast running bearings, and does not, therefore, create 
any serious fire hazard except by reason of the dust which it dis¬ 
tributes about the plant. 

The newest and probably the most efficient device for the 
removal of foreign matter from grain is the pneumatic separator. 
The principal is simple and depends upon gravity to make the 
separation. The grain or ground stock is passed through a current 
of air, the lighter material follows the air and the heavy material 
drops out. It is the best device to place ahead of attrition mills 
and screenings grinders, because it will take out stones and other 
non-magnetic substances as well as steel and iron, the two latter 
being all that the magnetic separator will remove. The Pneumatic 
Separator is now being developed for all sorts of separations as 
well as the separation of stones and gravel. The only hazard is 
in the fan used for suction which is usually slow running and 
comparatively safe. 

BEARINGS. 

Wooden bearings are not recommended, but there is no special 
hazard from them on lightly loaded, slow running shafts, par¬ 
ticularly when they are babbitted. They should not be permitted 
on heavy duty, or on shafts running more than 150 R. P. M. 


MACHINERY AND SPECIAL HAZARDS 125 



Hot bearings are often temporarily repaired by loosening the 
box, or by giving them an overdose of oil, either of which will be 
evident to a careful inspector. Shaft should be lined up, bearing 
rebabbitted, and the cause of the heating eliminated in a perma¬ 
nent manner at once. 

All oil holes should be covered with a dust cap to keep out the 
dirt and improve lubrication. Bearings that drip oil should be pro¬ 
vided with drip pans. 

Flat bearings are not suitable to fast running or heavy duty 
shafts. Ring or collar oiling bearings are usually employed, and are 
a great improvement over the flat bearings. In later years the in¬ 
creased cost of power has made roller and ball bearings a paying 
proposition since, in many cases, their saving in power amounts to 
as high as 10%. 

The type of roller or ball bearings to be selected depends on 
the service demanded and the selection should be made by an ex¬ 
perienced engineer. Under proper application both of these types 
have given satisfaction, while under adverse conditions both types 
have failed. From a fire standoint they are equally desirable. 

Method of blocking out scourer bearings on machines which 
are not properly constructed at the factory, is shown in figure 34, 
page 126, “A” is slot occupied by bridgetree originally. “B” is a 
block made to block out the bearing. Special attention should be 
given to clearance around the shaft at “C.” 




















126 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 



Figure 3 4 . 

Bureau Standard 474- 


standard COB BURNER DESCRIPTION. 

The burner finished will be diameter 18' x height 20' outside 
measurements. Foundation 24" x 18" of brick laid in cement or 
concrete and described as circular straight walls. The first or 
lower 10 feet of burner wall will be 13" hard brick laid in cement 
mortar and lined with one course of-common brick laid in com¬ 
mon mortar, but not bound to main wall. This lining to be 
renewed as required. Fire brick may be used but we consider 
common brick and renewals cheaper. 

The second or upper 10' of, burner wall will be 9" hard brick 
laid in cement and 4" hard-burned drain tile with 5 rows 20" apart 
and tile in each row 18" between centers. 
































MACHINERY AND SPECIAL HAZARDS 


127 


The burner to be bound by three ^4" x 4" strap iron bands placed 
as follows: 1st band around burner 5 ft. up from top of founda¬ 
tion, 2nd band at 10 ft. up from foundation and 3rd band 15' from 
foundation. A manhole or draft door size 48" x 48" to be placed 
at bottom of burner on opposite side from buildings and protected 
by sliding iron door. 

A round iron cob spout to be placed from elevator to cob burner 
at about an angle of 45 degrees, spout to enter cob burner 11 ft. 
from top of foundation. Size of cob spout to be 10" or 12" diameter 
and swelled at burner connection. Bottom of spout just outside of 
entrance point to burner, to have an opening of 8" wide x 18" 
length. Top of spout to have an opening of 6" wide x 48" length. 

Bottom opening in spout forms a jump discharge and in case 
of backing up will drop cobs to ground, outside of cob burner pre¬ 
venting a back-up of cobs and filling spout to elevator. Sides of 
spout will be solid making a wind shield against possible side 
wind or draft. 

NOTE: The size of cob burner shown in Figure 35 will not 
be considered standard for all capacities of shellers and may vary 
from 16' x 16' to 20' x 24' or larger. 



Standard Cob Burner. 





































128 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


LAMPS—KEROSENE 

Permission is given to the assured by a provision in their 
policy, to light the premises with kerosene of legal test while 
burned in stationary enclosed lamps or movable enclosed lanterns. 
Open lights are prohibited. The lamps used should be of a type 
having a metal base held in a safety bracket. The use of lamps 
with a glass base should be discouraged since they are so easily 
broken. Although lanterns are permitted, their use around dusty 
places such as boot pits and cupolas is dangerous on account of 
possible dust explosion. The proper light to use in such locations 
is an electric lantern, such as is manufactured by the Federal Sign 
System Co., of Chicago. 

Lamps—Gasoline, Acetylene, Natural Gas, 

The use of gasoline, acetylene, or natural gas lights should 

be prohibited in all locations. 

SMOKING. 

Smoking anywhere on the premises of a mill or elevator 
should be absolutely prohibited. “NO SMOKING” signs should be 
posted in conspicuous locations. If such signs are not in evidence 
advise either the home office or the Bureau, who will furnish the 
assured with signs. 

Since it is extremely difficult to prohibit smoking entirely, 
some owners have provided a detached fire resistive club room, 
where the men may go to eat their lunches and smoke during the 
noon hour. This is a very desirable convenience and removes 
temptation to smoke around the plant. 

WOODEN OR PAPER CUSPIDORS 

An entirely unnecessary fire hazard is introduced into a flour 
mill or grain elevator by the use of combustible cuspidors, or cuspi¬ 
dors filled with sawdust. Of course, matches are not supposed to be 
carried, and smoking is never supposed to be indulged in within 
the mill or elevator, but the fact that fires have started in com¬ 
bustible cuspidors proves their hazard. 

SAFETY MATCHES. 

The inspector should use every influence to educate the men 
around the mill or elevator never to carry the so called “strike 
anywhere match” with them into the plant. These matches are so 
easily ignited that a nail or coin in the pocket with them is liable 
to set them off. Even the matches alone can be touched off by the 
least bit of friction. Probably the best way of restricting their 
use is to induce the owner or manager to issue strict rules against 
them, and not only issue such rules but enforce them also. 

Matches are now being manufactured which bear the approval 
stamp of the Underwriters Laboratories. In case matches are 
necessary the approved type should be insisted upon. 

MAN LIFT. 

A big asset in a modern elevator, particularly from a fire pre¬ 
vention standpoint, is the man lift. The elevator head and head 
bearings and cupola need considerable attention. There are a 
great many times during the day when a trip to the top should be 
made, but certainly some of them will not be made if the operator 
has to' walk. It is most important that the operator should make 
an inspection before going home at night, but after a hard day’s 
work he is not apt to climb to the cupola. We have not reached 
the point where we require manlifts, but they should be strongly 
recommended wherever there is not an easy means of getting to 
the cupola. 


MACHINERY AND SPECIAL HAZARDS 


129 


DUST COLLECTORS. 

Since the proper ventilation of a flour mill or elevator is of 
such primary importance it follows that a proper system of dust 
collecting is also of great importance as it is one of the principal 
means of ventilation. 

The hazards and short-comings of the cloth dust collector are 
too well understood to need farther comment. It is obvious that 
the proper dust collecting system is one of all metal. 

Experience has taught that a fire travels thru the dust laden 
air in a wind trunk by a series of flashes. When this wind trunk 
leads to the cloth dust collector that provides an outlet for the rush 
of air caused by the flash lire (or explosion.) If the dust collectors 
are metal the top of the collector provides the outlet but if they 
open into the mill there is danger of fire being communicated from 
them. To protect against that they should be vented to the outside 
or should be vented into a non-combustible settling chamber which 
is vented to the outside. 

If the wind trunk is of wood, fire may smoulder in it for sev¬ 
eral hours and then break out. To guard against this all wind 
trunking should be of metal. 

Fires often start in rolls or elevator heads and are communi¬ 
cated thru the suction connection. Since these connections are 
subject to the same hazards as any wind trunk they should be of 
metal also. 

To gain the credit for an all-metal dust collecting system it 
is required that all wind trunk and suction connections and all 
dust collectors be of metal and all dust collectors are required to 
be vented to the outside or to be vented into a non-combustible 
settling chamber which is vented to the outside. 

Some systems are in use whereby the dust goes into a settling 
chamber before going to the dust collectors. That takes out the 
heavier stock thus relieving the dust collector of part of its work. 
In that case dust collectors should be vented to the outside. 

Some millers are loath to do away with all of their cloth col¬ 
lectors or because they do not have their system properly adjusted 
it “blows out” and they wish to correct that by venting the metal 
collectors into a cloth dust collector. Since their system is “nearly” 
all metal they insist that they are entitled to all or at least a part 
of the credit. They need educating. A little reflecting will bring 
to mind that the one cloth dust collector is just as susceptible to 
fire as a group of them and the fact that the air has passed thru 
a metal collector has in no way eliminated the hazard of a flash 
fire if the air is dust laden, which it must be or there would be no 
need of the additional cloth collector. 

CONVEYORS. 

Conveyors may be divided into two general classes, screw con¬ 
veyors and belt conveyors. 

A screw conveyor consists of a shaft with siral flanges con¬ 
tained in a metal or wooden box. The shaft runs very slowly and 
is not generally considered to introduce a fire hazard. However, 
because the conveyor does run so slowly the bearings are often neg¬ 
lected, and hot bearings have been known to start a fire. Because 


130 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


of their length, and the fact that they are usually supported by the 
floor or other part of the main building, they will often be found to 
be in need of lining up. Oil holes in bearings will often be found to 
be filled with dust. They should be cleaned out carefully, and the 
hole plugged to be kept clean. 

Dead end conveyors, meaning that the discharge spout is not 
at the extreme end of the conveyor, are a distinct fire hazard, 
and where such is found to be the case, a section of the top of con¬ 
veyor should be unfastened, and simply held in place by its own 
weight. Then in case of accumulation of a sufficient amount of stock 
in the dead end to cause trouble, the loose cover provides an out¬ 
let. The reversal of those flanges which extend beyond the dis¬ 
charge spout as shown in figure 36 will keep the dead end clean 
and free from accumulation of stock. Dead stock in conveyor is a 
favorite breeding place for moth and weevil. 

On grain conveyors used to handle the grain before it has 
passed over the cleaner, the twine is a constant source of trouble 
and has been known to so tightly wind itself about the bearings as 
to cause friction and fire. The condition cannot be entirely re¬ 
lieved, but if the grain is being dumped from sacks, which is the 
case in some territories, as fine a screen as is practical over the 
dump hopper will remove most of the twine. 

Metal conveyor boxes are preferable to wooden ones, and are 
coming into general use. 

Belt conveyors are much more efficient and economical for the 
conveyance of large quantities of grain for long distances. The 
equipment consists of a wide belt traveling horizontally, on which 
the grain is poured at the receiving end and discharged at the 
other by means of an elevation in the belt. The bearings must, of 
course, be in good condition and well cared for but the belt con¬ 
veyor is not considered to introduce any considerable fire hazard. 



Figure 36. 
























MACHINERY AND SPECIAL HAZARDS 


131 


ATTRITION MILLS AND GRINDERS. 

Attrition mills and all types of feed grinders are hazardous both 
by reason of the speed and strain on their bearings, and that they 
are subject of severe sparking when gravel or metallic substances 
pass through them or the machine runs empty and grinding plates 
contact. 

Screenings grinders are particularly dangerous because they 
work on a variable steam of light and highly combustible material 
containing a large amount of foreign matter, from stones to horse¬ 
shoes. When the stream is light there is enough air with it to 
permit combustion, and any spark in the machine is pretty certain 
to start a fire. Whether or not the fire results in damage to the 
property depends to a large extent on the installation of the grinder. 

Figure 37, page 137, shows the standard installation of an attri¬ 
tion mill or Williams Grinder. The figure is self-explanatory. The 
new types of Williams Grinder are equipped with a pneumatic 
separator just ahead of the machine, which when properly adjusted, 
is almost perfect protection against stones and metal. 

A peculiar hazard has developed in connection with the Wil¬ 
liams Grinder. The machine runs at very high speed, and due to 
the process of grinding the vibration is excessive. The base of the 
machine is made of wood, and when this wooden base is bolted to 
a wooden floor, the friction between the two surfaces has been 
known to have caused three fires. Mr. C. W. Fitzsimmons, of the 
Millers Mutual Fire Insurance Assn., Alton, Illinois, is the au¬ 
thority for this statement. 

The operation of a Willliams Grinder on wooden floor is not 
considered by most operators to be satisfactory. A concrete 
foundation or slab is much better. 

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION IN DAIRY FEEDS. 

Several fires have resulted in dairy or commercial feeds which 
were of spontaneous origin. Several examples of this are recited 
in the Caisson. In one other case, a carload of alfalfa molassas 
feed arrived at a New York State mill so badly burned that it 
was practically all spoiled. There was no evidence of fire on the 
outside of the car and the fact that the car was very tight and ex¬ 
cluded the air, prevented a blaze but the feed was badly charred 
and smoked. Other similar cases have been reported. 

The same condition can occur when the feed is closely piled 
in a warehouse. The remedy is to pile feed in stacks not over four 
sacks high and one sack wide. These stacks should be at least 
four inches apart to allow a good free circulation of air around 
the sacks to prevent accumulation of sufficient heat to' permit 
spontaneous combustion. 

Practically all of these fires have occurred in feeds containing 
alfalfa and so far as may be determined, the dampness of the al¬ 
falfa has a great deal to do with it. Damp baled alfalfa is known 
to be very much subject to spontaneous ignition. 

The Railroad Fire Prevention Association are taking this mat¬ 
ter up and we trust that the Mutual Organization will render every 
assistance by educating the policy holders along this line. 


132 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


PNEUMATIC SYSTEM. 



Approved Installation for Williams Grinders and Attrition Mills. 

Figure 37. 

Bureau Standard 68. 





























































MACHINERY AND SPECIAL HAZARDS 133 
£L CVRTOR Q YQ T£ M 



Approved Installation -for Attrition Mills. 
Figure 38. 

Bureau Standard 68. 















































































134 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


BELT AND ROPE DRIVES. 

All belt and rope drives should run free. They should never 
rub or be held in place by contact with a board as is sometimes 
found to be the case when the operator is too inefficient or care¬ 
less to line up the shafting and pulleys. 

Some machines start hard, and in starting their belts slip and 
tend to run off. A wooden bracket may be arranged to prevent 
this. Also in some cases where pulleys are close together a wooden 
“finger” is inserted between, to make it impossible for a belt to run 
off and become tangled in them and tear things up. There is no 
particular hazard in these arrangements if the belt is properly 
lined up so that it is in contact for a short space of time only. In 
fact they are a safeguard, and should be treated as such, and 
should not be confused with the braces which, because the pulleys 
are out of line, have the belt rubbing all of the time. 

When for any reason a rope drive comes in contact with wood 
when running fire results very quickly. If the rope is even run¬ 
ning close, means should be taken at once to insure against pos¬ 
sible contact. 

| SHAFT THRU DINS. 

In some sections of the country, particularly in the central west 
and southwest, the main power shaft may run thru a bin. Natur¬ 
ally, the weight of the grain will throw the shaft out of line and 
cause the bearings to heat. The bearings are often mounted on 
the side of the bin and consequently fire is readily communicated. 
It has been common practice to protect the shaft by a V-shaped 
cover of wood or by a wooden boxing. These protections cannot be 
built strong enough to stand the weight of the grain. Consequently 
they settle and ride on the shaft, introducing the friction hazard 
as well as throwing the shaft out of line. In addition, the V 
shaped cover in no way prevents the grain from flowing in under 
it and jamming around the shaft. Wooden protection of any sort 
around a shaft thru a bin should not be tolerated. The shaft should 
be protected by a 6” iron pipe or casing extending thru the side 
walls of the bin and should be open at each end. It is desirable 
if possible, to have the pipe supported on the bearings, then, if 
there is any shifting or settling, the pipe and shaft will go together, 
and there will be no chance of the pipe striking the shaft. 

CHOKE-UPS. 

The hazard from a choke-up is very serious. A loaded belt 
slipping on a head pulley will generate enough heat in a very short 
space of time to ignite dust or the elevator head or the belt itself. 
Cases have been known where the belt burning in two and dropping 
down smoldered there until it set fire to the leg. 

Choke-ups are most commonly caused by feeding into the boot 
too fast, by feeding into the back leg, by pieces of wagon boxes or 
end gates, or some such foreign material being dumped with the 
grain, by loose cups striking and sticking, or by a full bin backing 
grain up into the head. 

There are on the market non-chokable boots which are designed 
to prevent choking from too fast feeding. Feeding into the back leg is 
poor practice, except in the case of ear corn elevators, occasioned by 
too short a drop between bottom of bins and boot. In new con¬ 
struction or in building being remodelled it should be eliminated. 
Proper screening over the dump should prevent choking from for- 


MACHINERY AND SPECIAL HAZARDS 135 


™? n fl mat j ria -* going in with the grain. Distributors are built with 

in tn tuY d , eV1C ? S S £ tke srain (rom a ful1 bin cannot be backed up 
mt° the elevator head. Frequent examination of the cups should 

cauTinga choke P -up SlbiUty ° £ the ‘ r Strlking and sticking ' thereb >' 

PNEUMATIC GRAIN HANDLER. 

P, e „Te e ^ Pn <fh U ^ at !u grai - n ba ? dler takes tb e place of a power shovel. 
Figure 39, shows the principle of the machine 

,, Besi des handling grain faster than an ordinary shovel it has 

hat * dd vf ad J aU ^ e ° f ^ moving much of the dust, and in addition, 
heat & VGry decided coolm S effect on grain which has started to 

In some of these machines as much as 75% of the dust in the 
gram is removed on going through the dust collector. 

In cases where grain has started to heat in the bin, a small 
hopper of some kind can be formed on the work floor, the nozzle 
of the grain handler stuck into it, and the grain handled as fast 
as it comes from the bin. The cooling effect due to the air blast is 
a great deal more than can be obtained by running the grain over 
a cleaner and re-elevating. 

The principal hazard of this machine is in the induction 
motor which drives the rotary fan, and if that is properly installed 
and cared for there should be no trouble. 















136 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 



Bureau Standard 51)3. 



Figure Jfl. 



































MACHINERY AND SPECIAL HAZARDS 


137 


DUST HOUSES. 


Fires, due either to spontaneous combustion in damp dust, or 
to a spark from the fan on separator, or other machine, often orig¬ 
inate in dust rooms. Very little attention has been given to this 
hazard in the past. The following standards are established, and 
while we do not expect to have all of the old and dangerous dust 
rooms rebuilt at once, all new work should conform to the stand¬ 
ard, and the advisability of building safe dust houses should be 
urged upon the assured generally. 


STANDARDS FOR DUST HOUSES. 

Floors of all dust houses shall be fire resistive, (dirt floor does 
not answer this requirement) and shall be well above the level of 
the ground. 

Cyclone dust collectors shall receive the dust at the dust house. 
Dust collector shall discharge to the outside air or be placed on 
top of house. 

Metal wind trunking shall be used between elevator and dust 
house, and Bureau Standard Automatic Cut-off (Figure 41, page 
136) shall be placed in the wind trunk at a point close to the dis¬ 
charge end. 

Fire resistive dust house may be attached. Dust house with 
non-combustible sidewalls and combustible roof shall be detached 
ten feet from elevator or additions. 

Frame or frame iron clad dust house shall be detached twenty 
feet from elevator or additions. 











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W<n1 'HfM 0$ 




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. 

























CHAPTER IX 


THE BUCKET ELEVATOR 

































I 






THE BUCKET ELEVATOR 


141 


CHAPTER IX. 


THE BUCKET ELEVATOR. 


sible Ele No t ^il S l t n IldS i Sh0 f Uld be Wel1 bUilt ’ and as dust U ^ ht as P° s - 
? b1 ®' N k ° elevator can be kept clean if the elevator legs 
head or boot leak dust. The head and shaft should be supported 

Surthe en Bha t?\ bUildlng S ° that S6ttlin S ° f bins WU1 not 
shaft in eitw 0n J G ° Ut ° f line ' The minimu m sized head 

than 2 7/1 I ° r elevat ?r for ^ rain le ss should not be less 

elevator ^ ^ aCCOrdmg to num ber and size of stands of 

adjustable ' Bearmgs should be ring or collar oiling and 

. J he *° p ° f * he hea ^ should not be allowed to ride on the 
shaft or the shaft rub on the lower half of the head. The shaft 

rMTne V oTthl°p ly ^H thiS haZard iS ° ften disr egarded but “shaft 
riding on the head has caused fires. Beside the hazard due to 

result. 10410 " Shaft 13 ° ften thr ° Wn ° Ut ° f line and bot boxes 


/Jcof- fcr- 



































































142 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


Many fires and some dust explosions have been caused by the 
pulley or belt slipping over so that they rubbed against the side of 
the head. This may be inspected in small elevators by raising 
or sliding the top half of the head so the pulley and belt may be 
seen. In the large grain heads a peep hole or door should be 
provided so that the inside may be inspected. The belt should 
be properly adjusted so that the buckets will not drag. By placing 
one’s ear against the elevator leg, dragging buckets can be easily 
detected. 

STRUT BOARDS. 

Elevator heads should be hoppered to the down legs at an angle 
of 45°. Heads hoppered to both legs or either leg are acceptable 
provided there is 4" to 5" clearance between the strut board and 
head pulley at the closest point and the slant of the hopper is suf¬ 
ficient to prevent debris collecting on it. There should be handholes 
in the side of the head so that the strut board can be examined. 

Boot pits are going out of style in flour mills but they are still 
a necessity in country elevators. The pit should be large enough 
so that the operator can get all around the boot and easily keep 
the pit clean. Easy access should be provided by stairway and the 



Figure 43. 

Bureau Standard 808. 

































THE BUCKET ELEVATOR 


143 


pit should be well lighted by incandescent electric light installed 
m a vapor proof fixture and wired up in standard conduit. 

The elevator boot for grain legs should he metal with adjustable 
hearings and so arranged that they are handy to lubricate. The 
old wood boot in a small dark inaccessible pit is an ideal combina¬ 
tion for fire and should receive your careful attention. 

Wooden or wood rimmed pulleys are not permitted in the head 
or boot. In case the belt slips on them, fire may result in a very 
short time. Lagged pulleys are in general not permitted. A rub¬ 
ber belt on a rubber lagged pulley is permitted because tests have 
shown that the fire hazard is not active and this combination 
presents decided advantages since the greater friction tends to 
prevent chokes. 

NON-CHOKABLE ELEVATORS. 

There are on the market several elevators which are called 
non-chokable. They all operate on about the same fundamental 
principle, namely the boot is arranged in such a way that, as the 
grain overflows the buckets, it forms a weight acting downward in 
a vertical line upon the grain coming into the boot at an angle. 
By. parallelogram of forces it may readily be seen that a certain 
weight acting in a vertical line will counteract a much greater 
weight acting at an angle depending upon the angle of the incom¬ 
ing grain. Thus the weight of the grain flowing off the overfilled 
buckets will automatically shut off the stream of grain coming into 
the boot faster than it is carried up by the buckets. Where such 
an arrangement of boot is used it is impossible to choke the elevator 
by overfeeding at the boot providing there are three necessary 
features provided in the general construction of the complete 
elevator, in order that the elevator will carry the load with the 
buckets full. 

1. Sufficient friction at the head pulley so that the belt will 
not slip. 

2. Ample capacity in the driving connections to the head 
shaft. 

3. Ample motive power. 

Unless these three features are provided in the construction 
outside the boot, no elevator may be considered as non-chokable. 

To make an elevator non-chokable from backing up in the 
discharge at the head, it is necessary that a relief spout be pro¬ 
vided which will carry the grain back to the boot pit or bin 
connected with the boot. To accomplish this, there are on the 
market several types of distributors with automatic relief spouts. 
At the present time these are manufactured by the Hall Distributor 
Company, R. M. Van Ness Construction Company, B. F. Gump 
Company and Weller Manufacturing Company. 

In case the distributor feature is not desired such as the 
grain legs in a flour mill, the same result may be obtained by 
cutting a hole in the side of the discharge from the elevator head 
and connecting this discharge to the boot or bin. In one large 
mill this discharge connects to a hopper connected by cable to the 


144 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


friction clutch so that when the head chokes the hopper fills up 
and the weight of grain in the hopper trips out the friction clutch 
and stops the elevator or shuts off the feed as desired. There is 
a small hole in the bottom of the hopper to prevent spattered grain 
collecting and stopping the machinery. The same result could 
be obtained much easier in the case of electric power by having the 
weight trip out the starter. 

Where the elevator legs are of such size that the cups nearly 
fill the opening, the traveling buckets act as fan blades in many 
cases causing the elevator to BLOW, because of a pressure created 
inside of legs, boot and head by the fan action. This may be 
stopped in many cases by putting %" holes in the bottom of each 
bucket about 3" apart. The holes should not be larger as that 
would allow stock to drizzle through. The Bureau has actual 
knowledge of several cases where this has been done successfully 
although many are loath to believe that it will work. 


i 




CHAPTER X 


HEATING 















HEATING 


151 


CHAPTER X. 


HEATING. 


S“F f™r ;r " ass 


hazards. 

wnn ? !Heat ~~ Se ® ! f steam PiP es are clear where passing through 
wood floors or partitions. The hazard of steam pipes in contact 

Trn5L C ? mbUStlb 6 . ma „ terial > is on e that is under-estimated by most 
property owners, in fact, some insist that such a thing as fire from 
this cause is impossible. A recent Are from this cause is the best 
possible argument that fires do occur. 

wnn? hen i iSt f£ tells ^ that the alternate heating and cooling of 
0t !\ er combustibles, such as burlap and ground stock 
found in mills, together with the drying out and gathering of 
moisture, forms charcoal. If charcoal is formed at a low tem¬ 
perature, it has a much lower ignition point than commercial char¬ 
coal formed at high temperature, the ignition point being sometimes 
lower than the boiling point of water. Steam is always higher than 
this temperature. 

Charcoal has the ability to absorb from the air, many times 
its own volume of oxygen, and this chemical action is attended by 
the generation of heat. If the oxygen is absorbed rapidly, the tem¬ 
perature may reach the ignition point. This has been demonstrated 
by Laboratory tests. 


The remedy is to keep the steam pipes clear of wood and com¬ 
bustible stock. Figure 44, page 152, shows one method of holding the 
pipes in place. The settling of buildings or pipes will bring them in 
contact unless some such method is used. y 2 " to 1" clearance is 
sufficient where ventilation is allowed, but more should be allowed 
for large pipes and no ventilation. 

In locations where the space between the pipe and floor is lia¬ 
ble to fill up with dirt and dust, the irons holding the pipe may be 
made large enough to go completely around the pipe, and thus close 
the hole on the top. 

Steam traps in connection with heating systems should set 
on non-combustible bases, clear of wood. 

Hot-air Heating —Under this head, we find stoves, hot air 
furnaces, electric heaters, and gas stoves and heaters. 

Hot Air Furnaces —The use of this form of heating should be 
prohibited in most mills. There are occasional properties in which 
this form of heating may be safely installed, but the case should 
always be referred to your home office. The furnace must be in 
a fire resistive room, and the piping so placed and arranged that 
dust cannot collect in the furnace and ignite, when the inside of 
the furnace is heated. 

Electric Heaters —Electric heaters of the glowing type, must 
not be used except in offices or other locations, free from dust. 
In this type, the heating element is a wire or other substance! 
which becomes a red heat temperature and would ignite dust 
coming in contact with it. Home made heaters are prohibited, 
as the rating and construction is always questionable, and they are 
not safe. 


152 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 



Figure 44. 

Approved Method for holding Steam pipes thru floors. 
Bureau Standard 539. 





















HEATING 


153 


Gas Stoves and Heaters are prohibited, except in offices and 
similar locations free from dust. The gas connection to the stove 
must be of iron pipe (flexible hose connections prohibited) and 
a shut off on the outside of the building must be provided, in an 
accessible location. A pipe, venting stove to chimney flue, must be 

provided. The same regulation applies to oil and open electric 
n6at6rs. 


OFFICE STOVE. 

Over a period of eleven years, office stoves have been re¬ 
sponsible for over two hundred thousand dollars fire loss to 
our Companies. They certainly need to be closely looked after 
not only because of their inherent hazard, but because of the abuse 
to which they are subject. The elevator man is human. He does 
not like to sit around his office with the mercury down to twenty 
below, so on a cold morning he slips over to the elevator and 
starts a good fire, leaves the stove wide open, goes back to break¬ 
fast. Later he comes back and if the elevator is still standing and 
the room is well warmed, closes up the stove and gives his attention 
to the mornings business. The farmers begin to drop in. They are 
cold, so they open the stove wide and fill it up. After a while, 
they pull out their pipes, touch a piece of paper on the now red-hot 
stove, get a light, throw the paper on the floor and go on their way. 
This performance is not infrequent or uncommon. In cold weather, 
it is just as much the daily routine as taking in grain, and if the 
stove is not well installed, it is only a matter of time before the 
adjustor is called. 


To guard against these abuses, see that there is at least 24" 
clearance between the stove and the wall. If there is not, protect 
the side wall by sheet metal and asbestos. There should’be a 3" 
air space betwen the wall and this protection. Where ceiling clear¬ 
ance is less than 14", similar protection will be required on the 
ceiling. The stove shall be set on a good sheet metal or concrete 
base, extending 3 feet in front and 2 feet at sides of the stove, 
so as to catch all falling coals and ashes, and there must be an 
air space between the stove and this base. The stove pipe must 
be new, well riveted, and wired without any loose joints, and where 
it enters the chimney must fit snug into a metal thimble. Where 
it passes thru ceilings or partitions, a 3" air space thimble or non- 
conbustible thimble will be required. See figure 45, page 154. 


CHIMNEY. 


Hand in hand with the office stove hazard is the hazard of the 
defective chimney, responsible in the last eleven years for over one 
hundred and thirty-six thousand dollars in loss to our Companies. 
To eliminate this fire waste, it will be necessary to' eliminate defect¬ 
ive flues, and cracks, which is one way of saying that it will be neces¬ 
sary to build the chimneys so they cannot settle. The first con¬ 
sideration to that end, is to build them from the ground up instead 
of following the common practice of setting them on a wooden 
shelf or bracket. If the chimney does not extend to the ground, it 
should be supported from the ground up by brick or steel. In much 
of the present day construction, the chimneys run thru a concealed 


154 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


space over the office. Until such time as the chimneys are proper¬ 
ly constructed, it is advisable to have a space cut thru the ceiling 
around the chimney so that the chimney is visible from the roof 
down. 

Metal chimneys thru the roof or thru frame side walls, or thru 
windows are not permitted in any case. 

Where soft coal is used, it is necessary to rebuild chimney tops 
every few years. 

In order to ascertain if chimneys need rebuilding, climb to the 
top and look down inside. If mortar has fallen out from between 
the bricks on the outside, it will soon do so all the way through 
the wall. Take a screw driver or sharp implement and try to push 
it through the mortar; if you can do so, the chimney should be 
rebuilt at once, as follows: 

Tear it down to a point below the roof, get fire clay tiling of 
the same size as the inside measurement of the chimney, set it 
in the top of the flue and build up with good hard brick laid in 



Figure 45. 

Bureau Standard 809. 
















HEATING 


155 


eenKmt, consisting of two parts of sharp river sand and one part 
of good Portland cement. Mix and lay quickly before the cement 
Jl arde l s - ™ 1S ™ ake a solid brick, tile and cement chimney 
through the roof, where there is most danger, and is the best 
that can be done unless torn down to the ground and rebuilt, which 
is quite expensive and seldom necessary. 

Do not under any circumstances, “top off,” a chimney with tiling 
or metal, as they are soon destroyed by the sulphurous acid gas 
in the coal smoke, and either fall or are blown off, frequently dam¬ 
aging the roof. Build it all the way up with brick, tiling lined as 
indicated in rules and requirements below. 


RUL.ES AND REGULATIONS 
OF THE 

MILL AND ELEVATOR MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANIES 
FOR CONSTRUCTION OF 

CHIMNEYS, FLUES AND SAFE INSTALLATION OF STOVES IN 
OFFICES, WAREHOUSES, FLOUR MILLS AND ELEVATORS 

(a) Build all chimneys of brick or concrete from the ground 
up. None of their weight should be carried by anything except 
their proper foundations. Foundations should be at least 12" 
(inches) wider all around than the area of the chimney, and be 
started well below frost line. 

When chimney is to be cut off below in whole or in part, it 
should be wholly supported by brick, stone or steel construction, 
erected from ground up. 

(b) Build all chimneys to a point a least 3 feet above flat and 
2 feet above the ridge of peak roofs. Under no circumstances, 
should the brick work of the chimney be extended out over the 
roof by the projection of the course of brick nearest to it. Such a 
shoulder or over-hanging projection will inevitably cause cracks in 
the chimney in case the chimney settles. The chimney should be 
carried up of uniform thickness to the top, flashing of tin or copper 
being relied upon to prevent leaks at joint with the roof. 

FOR BEST RESULTS. 

(c) No chimney wall should be less than 8" (two courses 
of brick), in thickness and cement mortar only should be used. 
For ordinary heating where chimney is not very high, walls may 
be 4" thick if a suitable flue lining of fire clay is provided therein. 
Where chimney walls are built 8" in thickness, the upper part of 
chimney may be only 4" in thickness from a point at least 6" 
above the roof to the top of the chimney, providing the chimney 
be capped with terra cotta, stone or cement, or the bricks be care¬ 
fully bonded or anchored together. The best coping is a 3" blue 
stone and it is important to see that the holes cut in the cap stone 
correspond in size with the flue. Otherwise shoulders will be form¬ 
ed and draft interefered with. 

(d) The walls of brick buildings, when not less than 13" in 
thickness, may form part of chimney or flue. In no case should 
a chimney or flue be corbelled out more than 8" from the wall and 
in all cases, the corbelling should consist of at least five courses 
of brick. Flues in party walls should not extend beyond the 
center of said walls and their presence should be permanently 
indicated on both sides of walls. 


156 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


(e) Build all chimneys large enough to give a separate flue for 
each fire, using fire clay or terra cotta tile lining, at least 1 in 
thickness. If this cannot be obtained, cover inside of chimney 
with a heavy coat of cement plaster. The lining should be put 
in as the flue is constructed, using great care to see that the 
joints on same are carefully made. When two or more separate 
flues are provided in a chimney, the division walls between flues 
may be only 4" in thickness. Two connections to a single flue will 
result in fire from one communicating to the opening in the other 
and thousands of fires have been originated in this manner. Flue 
in throat measurement should be not less than 8”x8" on the inside. 

PROHIBITIVE CONDITIONS. 

Chimneys built of tile, stove pipe through side of frame build¬ 
ings, or windows. 

No chimney should rest on floor beam or shelf of wood. 

No floor joists or other woodwork permitted to enter into chim¬ 
neys or flues, or wood casing, lath or furring permitted within 
2" of chimney walls. 

Dirt boxes not permitted under stoves. 


CHAPTER XI 


INTERIOR FIRE PROTECTION 



INTERIOR FIRE PROTECTION 


161 


CHAPTER XI. 

INTERIOR FIRE PROTECTION. 

(Except Automatic Sprinklers.) 

Due to occupancy and process of a flour mill or grain elevator 
fire usually spreads very rapidly. Practically all fires are small at 
the start, and since they spread rapidly, must be checked in their 
incipiency if they are to be checked at all, because our records 
show in general that the loss is very small or it is very near total 
For that purpose there must be some “first aid fire protection” con¬ 
veniently located and ready for use. 

It should be understood that first aid fire protection cannot be 
expected to cope with a fire except in its incipiency, and it cannot 
be regarded in any way as being other than an auxiliary protection, 
and not a substitute for automatic sprinklers and other apparatus 
of effective use in a wider field of fire fighting. 

Remember the two simple requirements for first aid protection, 
viz: “CONVENIENTLY LOCATED” and “READY FOR USE.” 

To be conveniently located, the apparatus should, in general, be 
placed near the head of stairs or near the center of each area. It 
should be painted red and its location (particularly in warehouse 
where view of it is obstructed by piles of stock) should be marked 
conspicuously in the wall above it. Probably one of the best means 
of marking is a sign about one foot by three or four feet long, 
consisting of alternate diagonal stripes of sharply contrasting 
colors or a red light. This sign or location should be numbered 
and every piece of apparatus belonging to that location should be 
numbered to correspond with it. 

The requirement “To be ready for use” is most important, and 
is most often abused. Water pails are carried away or used for 
other purposes. Water barrels or tanks are not kept filled. Chemi¬ 
cals are not recharged. Fire axes are used for other purposes and 
not returned. These abuses and innumerable others are brought 
about largely because it is often considered as everybody’s business 
to look after the apparatus, consequently it is nobody’s particular 
business. It is just as important to have some competent man de¬ 
tailed to look after the fire fighting apparatus, as it is to have the 
apparatus itself at hand. In large plants there should be an in¬ 
spection blank furnished by the office, to be filled out at regular in¬ 
tervals, thereby requiring frequent inspections. This inspection 
should be made by various employees from time to time, to familiar¬ 
ize them with the equipment, but the inspections should always be 
under the direction of the man in charge, and he should be held 
strictly accountable for all fire fighting apparatus at all times. 

WATER CASKS AND BUCKETS. 

For simplicity and certainty of action, there is nothing that 
can take the place of the water cask (or barrel) and buckets. Their 
use is understood by the most ignorant employee. They can be 
made non-freezing and are very inexpensive to keep up. 

Formerly barrels were used exclusively, but now good barrels 
are hard to obtain and so much trouble has been experienced from 
the hoops rusting that some other container is desirable. Some 
mills are using 50 to 60 gallon crocks with success, but probably 
the most satisfactory are metal tanks or casks of about fifty gal¬ 
lon capacity, with tight fitting covers. These tanks should be painted 
red and numbered. They must not be used as a catch-all for junk 
or a handy place for piling bags. They should be kept free and 
accessible. 


162 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


There should be two good fire pails of 12 quarts capacity provid¬ 
ed for each barrel. These should be painted red and numbered to 
correspond with the number of the cask and should be labeled 
“FIRE” or “FIRE ONLY.” Some inspection departments insist on a 
specially designed pail with a round or pointed bottom or similar 
arrangement, intended to prevent its use for other purposes. Our 
experience with that type has been that a man fills two pails, runs 
to the fire, and sets one down so he can throw the other, the result 
being that the one pail upsets and a large portion of a very valuable 
water supply is lost. Flat bottomed pails should be used. To pre¬ 
vent their being taken for other purposes, one of several means may 
be resorted to. Several small holes may be punched in the bottom. 
That in no way spoils their use for fire, but it does render them un¬ 
desirable for many other purposes. Pails may be sealed in place in 
the cask or over it, by a car seal or leather strap, or they may be 
kept in a case with a slotted or a glass door, as shown in figure 46. 



Figure If6 . 
















































INTERIOR FIRE PROTECTION 


163 


it ia T ° ?^ ke . a £ on I freezing mixture, common salt may be used but 
in if™ a + d ? sirable becaus © in time it gets foul smelling and is in¬ 
jurious to iron tanks or hoops. Calcium chloride (commercial 75%) 

as? »* ”»•* —«»* 


In „b,™ , h , P S n Li‘B,& =« 

ture does not go below gallon of ^olmlnn 

i 8 er o eSre6S AB0VE zer °. .2 lbs S p°er“ganon 


3 lbs. per gallon 

3% lbs. per gallon 

lbs. per gallon 

lbs. per gallon 

lbs. per gallon 


10 degrees below zero. 

18 degrees below zero.. 4 

40 degrees below zero ...................... . [5 

60 degrees below zero. ......... 6 

All that is necessary is to put the calcium chloride into the 
water stirnng it frequently until it is all dissolved. 

a tt a p C ir a l C nM^ Chl ° r ^ de d ? Q ? n0t rust metal > yet U has a tendency to 
S!?A k aif ^°i etal Cans are used ’ about a P° und or more of 

dStroy toe solder 6ach C ““ ‘° overcome this tendency to 

Th ^J neta I ca . n , s be obtained from any worker in galvanized 
iron. They should hold at least fifty gallons, and should be 22 to 
24 inches m diameter by about 36 inches high, and securely made. 
The style of the lid or cover is very important. It should be conical 
shape, with straight edges over the side of the can, and it should 
be made to fit on can closely to avoid evaporation, but must not 
stick. There should be a handle at the top of the cone. The pur¬ 
pose of the conical shape is to prevent tools and other articles being 
piled on top. & 


CHEMICAL PAILS. 

In some places such as cupolas and low attics, there may not 
be room to locate a water cask. Four approved 10 to 12 quart 
buckets of the. non-freezing type, or two non-freezing chemical 
extinguishers will be accepted in lieu of water casks in such places. 
Buckets should be of rigid metal construction, filled with a non- 
freezing mixture and with the top sealed on to prevent evaporation, 
and so constructed that the entire contents cannot be discharged 
with one throw. 

There are several approved five gallon pump type extinguishers 
that in some locations are more effective than either of the above 
pails or extignishers. They should be filled with calcium chloride 
solution so as to be non-freezing. These are recommended for 
confined locations not subject to oil or electric fires. 


PAILS OF SAND. 

Pails of sand have no place in “first aid” fire fighting equipment 
for mills or elevators. The use is too limited and they are too de¬ 
structive to machinery. If something of that nature is desirable 
use sawdust and soda. 

SAWDUST. 

Sawdust is especially valuable upon fires in tanks or kettles 
containing lacquer or volatile compounds or oils, and of use in all 
fires in oils and other substances that do not mix with water. 
Should be applied in quantities sufficient to cover the fire to a depth 
of three inches or more. This is particularly desirable in engine 
rooms where oil is used for fuel. 








164 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


Clean, dry sawdust, preferably from soft woods because of 
lighter weight and great porosity, free from dirt, chips, shavings, 
and other foreign matter, thoroughly and evenly mixed with bi¬ 
carbonate of soda in the proportion of 10 pounds of soda to one 
bushel of sawdust, operates by excluding the air and retaining car¬ 
bon dioxide given off in considerable amount by sodium bicarbonate 
when heated. 

Not recommended to be distributed in small containers, but kept 
in proper bins or large containers of several bushels capacity, each 
as near as possible to the hazard to be protected. Not considered as 
a substitute for pails of water in part or altogether, except at the 
special point of hazard. 

HAND PUMPS (WATER ONLY). 

These appliances have been shown to be effective in incipient 
fires where water or solutions containing large percentages of water 
are effective. They are made in 2% and 5 gallon liquid capacity. 

The force, length and duration of the stream are subject to 
control of the operator. The delivery and range is about equiva¬ 
lent to that of the soda and acid and the foam type extinguishers. 

They are effective in situations where soda and acid extinguish¬ 
ers are approved, and of special use on small fires so located as 
to preclude effective use of pails. 

Their use on electrical arcs, machinery and wiring carrying 
high voltages may be dangerous on account of the conductivity of 
the liquid. They are of limited service in hazardous liquid fires. 

These devices depend upon a solution of calcium chloride for 
depression of the freezing point, and if used in low temperatures, a 
standard grade of calcium chloride should be used. 

SODA AND ACID FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. 

These appliances are copper tanks with a small hose attached. 
They are filled with water in which is dissolved bi-carbonate of 
soda, while in a glass container, kept separate from the soda solu¬ 
tion, is sulphuric acid. When the acid and the soda solution is 
mixed, carbonic acid gas is formed, creating pressure within the 
container, and expelling the solution through the hose. 

Extinguishers should be carried to the fire right end up, and to 
be used should be inverted. While the stream is more effective if 
used close to the fire, in case of necessity it can be directed from 
a distance as great as 25 feet. 

Appliances of this type are effective on incipient fires in free 
burning material (such as wood, etc.), and where water or solutions 
containing large percentages of water are effective. They are of 
limited service on fires in liquids of flammable nature. Their use 
on electric arcs, electric machinery or wiring carrying high voltages 
may be dangerous on account of the conductivity of the liquid. 

Extinguishers should be examined at least once and preferably 
twice a year, and should be tested at least once in two years or 
more, frequent tests being invaluable in the knowledge they give 
employees and other persons in the operation of the device. At 
these tests, the extinguisher should be discharged as if for actual 
service, and then examined, for corrosion of the interior or other 
defects. After the tests, or whenever used, the extinguisher should 
be cleaned and recharged. To recharge an extinguisher, the cap 


INTERIOR FIRE PROTECTION 


165 


s-.satssisa'BSs 

. . . e soda, charge is prepared by mixing one and a half oounds 

st f irrrnTu 0 nm te th1 Zt * '1° galtoi of^iTSd 

stirring until the soda is dissolved, when the solution ran h<* 
poured in the tank, care being taken that it does not rise above the 
fiUing mark indicated on the inside of the tank 

The acid charge consists of 4 fluid ounces of commercial sul¬ 
phuric acid (oil of vitrol), which, when poured in the bottle should 
"° ™ e fl , a r° Ve the , U1 “ ng mark Moated on the bottll If the bottle 
h °J e acid f hould not 1511 more than half the bottle. 

5? e ! ead stopper has been put in the bottle, it can be re- 
fa'nk- d Tn ril?! b ? ttle , holder and the latter put in position in the 
csn k '«hen J u 1 8 the , C f p ’ the washer must not be omitted; tbe 
aJL h l d b ? sc r? wed down “Shi and cross threading avoided. 

i he date and the si s natur e Of the person who per¬ 
mit™ v sh °“ ld be recorded on the card or tag attached to the 
machine tor that purpose. 


FOAM TYPE EXTINGUISHERS. 

The Foam Type Extinguisher is made of copper; cylindrical in 
shape; provided with hose and nozzle without shut off; liquid ca- 
pacity approximately 2% gallons; total capacity 3 gallons; chem- 
icals used, bicarbonate of soda and foam producing agents dis¬ 
solved in water, for outer compartments and aluminum sulphate 
dissolved in water for inner cylinder. 

Extinguishers should be carried to the fire right end up, and to 
be used should be inverted. While the stream is more effective if 
used close to the fire, in case of necessity it can be directed from a 
distance as great as 25 feet. 


These appliances are effective in incipient fires where water 
or solutions containing large percentages of water are effective,’ 
and only slightly less effective on considerable quantities of loosely 
piled excelsior or similar materials. They are particularly effective 
on fires in liquids of flammable nature wherever the foam is per¬ 
mitted to form a covering on burning surface. They are especially 
adapted for refineries, garages, and other properties involving stor¬ 
age and use of hazardous liquids, but are not particularly adapted 
to flour mills or grain elevators. 


CARBON TETRA-CHLORIDE EXTINGUISHERS. 

These extinguishers are of about one quart capacity, utilizing 
as extinguishing agents special liquids, largely of carbon tetra¬ 
chloride but with important components for depressing the freezing 
point. 

The appliances are effective on incipient fires in hazardous vola¬ 
tile liquids, oils, etc., where lime, grease, or calcium carbide are 
involved, on rapidly burning material such as greases, tar, etc., and 
in cotton or other fabrics such as sacks in rolls or piles. They 
are especially adapted for garage or automobile use, and for elec¬ 
trical equipment. Because of the low freezing point of the ex¬ 
tinguishing liquids, these extinguishers will be of service where low 
temperatures prevail. 


166 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


They are not recommended for service on fires in freely burn¬ 
ing material of any considerable quantity, nor where the blanket¬ 
ing effect of the vapors from the extinguishing liquids may not 
be utilized, nor where the quenching by cooling effect of quanti¬ 
ties of liquids are of first importance. Where provided for gen¬ 
eral use, they should usually be supplanted by other types of first- 
aid equipment. 

Extinguishers of this type should be kept as near as possible to 
the danger point, because the violence and speed with which the 
class of fires they are designed to combat gain force, call for the 
utmost promptness of application. For this class 15 feet of travel 
should be the maximum. 

These extinguishers should be carefully inspected as to condi¬ 
tion of the pump at regular intervals. If there is any indication of 
pump corrosion, the extinguisher should be discharged, cleaned and 
refilled. 

Care should be taken to ventilate small rooms and confined 
spaces after using this type of extinguisher. 

SODA ACID STAND PIPES. 

This device is on the same principle as a soda acid extinguisher. 
The liquid is contained in a large tank and is distributed by a 
stand pipe with hose connections or sprinkler heads. It is de¬ 
signed to operate automatically when a hand valve or sprinkler 
head opens. 

This equipment provides a good supply of liquid under high 
pressure, and should be very serviceable where a few sprinkler 
heads are needed to protect a special hazard, and it has a good field 
in the smaller class of risks where an automatic supply of water 
is not available. It requires about the same care as a small auto¬ 
matic sprinkler equipment, should be tested and recharged once a 
year. Usually the company selling the equipment, sends a man 
around to take care of the recharging. 

The Relc system is probably one of the best examples of this 
type. 

STEAM JETS. 

Steam is very effective in sealed spaces and has some advantages 
in protecting special hazards where water cannot readily reach the 
fire. It might be used advantageously in protecting dry kilns in 
cooper shops or in dust houses. It may be made automatic by using 
sprinkler heads on the end of trapped pipes filled with water. 

Systems are very apt to fail from insufficient steam supply or 
because of lack of tightness of building. There is not usually ca¬ 
pacity enough to render it effective in large or open areas, and for 
that reason it is not applicable for general protection in flour mills. 

DRY POWDER TUBES AND HAND GRENADES. 

These devices never were effective; in fact, they are a detri¬ 
ment rather than a help, because in applying them valuable time 
is wasted, and the delay in not using an effective extinguishing 
agent may let the fire get beyond control. 

STAND PIPE ANU HOSE. 

A stand pipe properly installed and in the hands of competent 
men, is one of the most effective interior fire fighting devices for 
general purposes, except the automatic sprinkler. 

There shall be at least one automatic source of supply which is 
capable of maintaining a 15 pound flow pressure at the highest 


INTERIOR FIRE PROTECTION 


167 


point with two or three streams discharging. The source may be 
rrom a city system or from a pressure tank, or from a gravity 
tank. It is not desirable to have a meter in the connection, but if 
it is necessary, a detector meter is advisable. If the city depart¬ 
ment insists on exercising control over the supply, they may omit 
the meter, providing they are permitted to seal closed the valves on 
the hose connections. 

A fire pump, even when automatically controlled, is not desir¬ 
able as a primary source of supply, because too much valuable time 
will be lost before the water can be turned on. It is essential 
that there be always pressure on the stand pipe. 

„ Th e stand pipe shall not be smaller than 2" in diameter, with a 
2 equivalent connection to' the source of supply and shall extend to 
all floors. It should be near the stairway and if there is a stair¬ 
well, it is desirable to have it there. 

The hose shall be 1or iy 2 " Underwriters unlined linen fire 
hose. ^ It shall be equipped with standard brass nozzle, having %" 
or y 2 ” opening. The hose shall be in 50 ft. lengths and there 
should be enough of it to reach all parts of the building. It should 
be kept on flat folded or pin racks. Reels are not desirable, because 
they do not permit ventilation or inspection. 

Linen hose is required because, unlike rubber lined cotton hose, 
it is not affected by heat, it occupies less space, is light, does not 
require frequent testing, and costs less money. Rubber lined hose 
may crack and part of the lining peel off and plug the nozzle when 
used. 

The linen hose should be carefully inspected by the inspector, 
but it should not be tested. If the hose is not properly dried after 



Figure Jfi. 


























168 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


using, or if there is a little drip from the connection it will rot. 
The hose may be damaged at the connection by material coming in 
contact with it and jamming it against the pipe. 

Examine this place carefully, giving the hose a good hard jerk. 
If it is rotten or loosely connected or worn, the fault will show up 
without putting it to actual test. If it is kept dry it will last almost 
indefinitely. 

There should be a drip cock open at each connection, so as to 
prevent leakage from the valve getting into the hose and causing it 
to rot. See figure 46, page 167. 

Hose may be connected to a wet sprinkler riser not smaller 
than 2^". The hose and nozzle should be the same as specified 
above but the nipple and hand valve should not be over 1". Hose 
must not be connected to a dry pipe. 

PRIVATE FIRE BRIGADES. 

Much of the confusion and ineffectiveness of the fire fighting by 
employees may be avoided by the proper organization of forces and 
the proper inspection of fire fighting devices to see that they are in 
readiness at all times. 

“All fires are the same size at the start.” The proper use of the 
so-called first aid fire fighting devices will do much to prevent 
loss, especially water damage to stock. 

First: There should be some means to notify all that a fire has 
started. There are a multitude of such schemes, from the manual 
bell system to the complicated bell and annunciator system for the 
large plant. The use of the electric siren has given good results in 
many mills. A set of signals may be posted and used to advise the 
men of the location of the fire. 

If desired, a system may be installed whereby the pushing of a 
button will start bells ringing and annunciators give the location of 
the fire. j 

The organization of the brigade will require some careful 
thought and tact on the part of the management. It requires a 
peculiar temperament to always be on the lookout and be prepared 
for something we hope will not happen, and the man to whom the 
fire fighting equiment is entrusted must be chosen accordingly. 

The Superintendent is, of course, the man in charge at all times, 
but his multiplicity of duties prevents his detailed personal at¬ 
tention being given to everything. Some one man should be per¬ 
sonally responsible for fire fighting equipment efficiency. He should 
look after everything in the nature of fire prevention and protection, 
such as fire doors, traps, shutters, as well as the devices for ex¬ 
tinguishing fire. 

He should make periodic inspections, taking care of the normal 
replacements and reporting matters out of his jurisdiction. Need¬ 
less to say, the success depends largely upon the backing that this 
man receives from his superiors. 

We suggest that this man be one of the day crew and be given 
some title such as FIRE CHIEF. It should be his duty to take 
charge in case of fire unless the Superintendent is present and 
wishes to supercede him. A man on each of the other shifts should 
be appointed to assume the duty of fire chief or director. 


INTERIOR FIRE PROTECTION 


169 


~^™ a \- h °? ld have an a PP° int ed duty to perform, and be 

Lwen htinw 11 m dutles ‘ .„ w ® su ^gest some such arrangement as 
given below. Of course, if the fire should be severe, the course of 
action will depend upon circumstances, and the judgment of the 
director must determine the course of action. 

A , d f e +1 dld ^ once a month will give the men an opportunity ta 
see what they are to do, and keep the matter in their minds. 

nh J! SP °i Sin I ° f , y ? Ur f0rces ’ the foll °wing points should be 
observed 1—Break down or plug spouts to prevent spread of 

rT Ass ? mble means to fight fire. 3—Patrol area exposed 
but not burning; notice particularly elevator boots and heads and 
dust collectors. 4—Spread men out over property when menaced 
by an exposing building. 5—Patrol premises looking out for second 
outbreak. 


Many of our most destructive fires have occurred after the in¬ 
cipient fire had been extinguished and vigilance relaxed, and when 
discovered, was beyond control. 


WIDE AWAKE MILLING COMPANY. 

FIRE BRIGADE SCHEDULE, FOR DAY SHIFT. 

Positions to be taken by each man when fire alarm is sounded. 

John Jones—Oiler 3rd and 4th floors—When fire is else¬ 
where will patrol these floors and watch for outbreak of fire 
there. When fire is on one of these floors, will watch the other. 

Note—Properties have been lost by all being at the place 
the fire started and fire broke out elsewhere un-noticed. 

Harry Gardner—Packer first floor—Will go to the fire 
taking the (name) extinguisher hanging on the west wall at 
foot of stairs first floor. 

J. M. Hooper—Trucker first floor—Will go to fire with fire 
ax beside above extinguisher. 

Geo. Watson—Warehouse foreman—Will get the standpipe 
hose ready for use if needed. It is not to be used until directed 
by the Fire Chief. 

Harry Bennett—Will bring two pails of water from the 
nearest barrel. 

Local conditions will suggest the best adaptation of the above 
scheme for each plant, the object being to make the quickest and 
most efficient use of the fire protection available. The arrangement 
need not be elaborate, but above all, must be practical and reason¬ 
able. 

INTERIOR SIGNALLING SYSTEM. 

Interior Signalling Systems are divided into two types, Manual 
and Automatic. 

Manual systems as the name implies are operated by hand 
and when used to give fire alarms require, of course, that the fire 
be first discovered by some other means. For that reason they are 
of comparatively small value except when connected to the central 
fire station. 

A very good example of the Manual type is the common street 
fire alarm box. 

Our Companies do not give credit for any type of Manual fire 
alarm. 


170 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


Automatic signal systems are designed to sound a fire alarm 
under certain changes of temperature. There are two types, posi¬ 
tive and compensating. The former operates at a certain prede¬ 
termined temperature and the latter due to a certain rate of tem¬ 
perature increase. 

The positive type usually depends on a thermostat, the expan¬ 
sion of an element of which operates an electric circuit or de¬ 
pends on the melting of a solder which does the same thing. 

The compensating type depends for operation on a thermostat 
with a compensating arrangement so that if the rate of change of 
temperature is normal such as would naturally take place in the at¬ 
mosphere there is no effect on the electrical circuit, but if there is a 
rapid change in temperature such as would take place during a 
fire then the electrical circuit is operated to give an alarm. One 
make of equipment known as the Aero instead of using the usual 
type of thermostat has a hollow wire which is strung around. A 
rapid increase in temperature causes the air in the wire to expand 
which acts on a diaphram to operate the electric circuit. The usual 
slow change of temperature is compensated for by the diaphram 
which is porous. 

Electric alarm circuits may be “open” or “closed”. 

An open circuit is one that is normally open and depends on 
the automatic device to close it. They are not usually satisfactory 
because there is no means of telling without actual test if the 
batteries are in working condition. 

The closed circuit is one that is normally closed thru a high 
resistance relay by means of which short circuits, grounds, or bat¬ 
tery trouble are brought to the attention of the operator. 

Our Companies have approved the Aero and the Relc systems 
when properly installed. See schedule for credit. 

The rules for installing signal systems are given in our code. 

Other systems must be referred to the Home Office for approval. 


CHAPTER XII 

EXTERIOR FIRE PROTECTION 





EXTERIOR 1 FIRE PROTECTION 


181 


CHAPTER XII. 

EXTERIOR FIRE PROTECTION. 

Where there is at least one good automatic source of supply 
a good system of yard mains with hydrants conveniently located is 
very desirable. * 

UNDER GROUND SYSTEM. 

The under ground piping should comply with the regulations of 
the National Board of Fire Underwriters governing the installation 
of automatic sprinklers, as outlined under Section M. The sizes 
of mains recommended are: 

No four inch pipe shall be used. 

For pipe extending to a dead end, allow 200 feet of 6" pipe with 
one 3-way hydrant, or 500 feet of 6" pipe with one 2-way hydrant. 
In special cases, these sizes may be extended to allow 1000 feet 8" 
pipe with one 3-way hydrant, or 500 feet 8" pipe with one 4-way 
hydrant, or its equivalent in hose streams, of 300 feet 8" pipe to first 
hydrant where there is a hydrant equivalent of six streams. 

The above limitations for 8" pipe are low, and it is deemed un¬ 
desirable to have over 4 streams on a dead end, and the loop 
system would ordinarily be employed where it is intended to con¬ 
centrate over 4 streams at one point. 

There shall never be more than three streams on a 6" branch 
pipe. 

On loop systems with two 3-way hydrants, say 250 feet apart, 
allow 250 feet 6" pipe from each hydrant towards source (prefera¬ 
bly use 8" pipe with 3-way hydrant system.) 

With two 2-story hydrants, say 250 feet apart, allow 500 feet 6" 
pipe from each hydrant toward source. 

With three 2-way hydrants, 250 feet apart, allow 260 feet 6" 
pipe from end hydrants towards source. 

To feed four 2-way hydrants, or their equivalent, use 8" main 
feed pipes and allow 500 feet of 8" pipe each way from end of hy¬ 
drant to water supply, rest of pipe of 6" if desired. 

To feed five 2-way hydrants or their equivalent, use 8" main 
feed and allow 250 feet from end hydrants to water supply. 

Where water supplies are such that over four streams can be 
obtained, loop pipe should never be less than 8". 

In laying out a loop system where it is intended to concentrate 
4 to 6 streams at any one point, an 8" loop should be amply suffi¬ 
cient even if it is as much as 1,000 feet from supply to point of 
concentration. 

COUPLINGS. 

It is very important that all hydrants and hose couplings in a 
plant, are the same and completely interchangeable. The inspector 
should carefully check these over, making sure that the hose can 
be connected together and can be connected to a hydrant and 
should be interchangeable with city fire department connections. 

HOSE. 

Hose for outside protection should never be used for other 
purposes, but it should be inspected and tested at frequent inter¬ 
vals. Consequently, linen hose such as is required for inside pro¬ 
tection, is not suitable for outside use. Cotton rubber-lined hose 
is recommended. 

Hose requires the best of care. The cotton rapidly deteriorates 
under adverse conditions, and the rubber is easily damaged. It 
should be kept in a standard hose house, or a cool, well ventilated 


182 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


building. It must never be kept in boiler rooms or pump rooms, 
or other warm or damp places. After using, hose must be thor¬ 
oughly drained and dried, and properly coiled in hose house. 

HYDRANTS. 

Only standard hydrants should be used, and they should be lo¬ 
cated close enough together so that it will not be necessary to use 
over 250 feet of hose on any hydrant, to cover all buildings. The loss 
of pressure in a hose is very great, and for that reason hose lengths 
should be kept down as much as possible. 

Hydrants should be located far enough from buildings so that 
they will not be rendered inaccessible during a fire. Generally they 
should not be closer than 40' or 50' to combustible buildings. 



£QutPM£NT. 

Too she/fy At /east /OOft- hose, 
co/ied with male. coupling to front 
Middle, shelf: - fOOf of 2%cotton ruhber- 
hned Under writer hose, a/nays coupled 1o 
hydrant and play pipe attached 
Other eq uipment '.- /Zdses, h bars, 4 
spanners, ft addifiona / tff standard 
underwriters play pipes, ft /adder straps 
/ noz.*!e holder and theavy mill 
!a nTern. 

One wrench to be a/rrays ktpt on 
hydrant and a spare one provided. 



Figure £8. 
Bureau Standard 67. 




















































CHAPTER XIII 
LIGHTNING PROTECTION 



LIGHTNING PROTECTION 


191 


CHAPTER XIII. 

LIGHTNING PROTECTION. 
j foreword. 

buildin^°a^ Ca i S n eS ^ tlle ware ^ ou 1 ses and grain elevators are isolated 

est bSfdlTi^n 1 ^ 6 * CaS -! ° f S 16 countr y elevator, it is the high- 
est handing in the vicinity. For this reason, it is important that 
lightning protection should be provided. P 1 tnat 

nT1#i Th e foll °w in g specifications outline the best known practice 

1 d GROUNDING , - CtlCal and econoinical solution of the problem. 

_» t ? G ^ oundation of a building is the most important part 
thp 1 ^ e ; S( ? the groundin S of a lightning rod system is 

important part of the system. It has been said by 
some scientists that a poor ground creates a hazard when a light¬ 
ning rod is connected to it. While this is not to be taken with¬ 
out salt, yet it goes to show that this feature of the installation 
cannot be taken too seriously. 

Furthermore, the grounding must be known to be properly done 
at the time of installation, for it can never be inspected afterwards 
without digging up the grounds. 

There are three recognized methods of grounding covered 
under A, B, and C as follows, and the one most suitable must 
be chosen when the nature of the soil is known. 

METHOD A—ATTACHING THE GROUND WIRE TO A WATER 
PIPE. 


This method is to be preferred in all cases. The connection to 
the water pipe must be made at a point outside the building. 

Connection to piping to be made preferably by soldering the 
conductor into a brass plug and forcibly screwing the plug into 
the pipe fitting, or, when the pipes are cast-iron, into a hole tap¬ 
ped into the pipe itself, or by sweating the conductor into a lug 
attached to an approved clamp and firmly bolting the clamp to the 
pipe after the rust and scales have been removed. 

The idea is to get as good and permanent connection to the 
underground piping as possible, and one that will best with¬ 
stand the effects of corrosion. It is desirable to connect to 
two or more lengths of pipe in order to guard against crippling 
the protection by injury to or deterioration of a single connection 
METHOD B—EXTENDING THE ROD INTO THE GROUND TO 
MOIST EARTH. 


This method may be used only where the earth is perma¬ 
nently moist up to within a few feet of the top of the ground and 
the rod should extend at least 10 feet into the ground. If the cop¬ 
per rod would be subject to corrosion due to chemicals in the 
soil or more area is desired, a pipe driven into the ground 
should be used. Where no corrosion will take place, it is some¬ 
times desirable to dig a trench, as for instance there is a hard 
pan or rock near the top of the ground, at least 12 feet long and 
as deep as possible and lay the rod in the bottom. 

This method wull give good results in clay soil. 

METHOD C—GROUND PLATES: 


Connection to ground plates to be made by riveting and solder¬ 
ing, and the connection to be thoroughly protected against cor¬ 
rosion by painting. The ground plates to be of copper and not 
less than No. 16 Stubb gauge, about 3 feet square and buried below 
the permanent moisture level with about two feet of crushed coke 
or charcoal above and below. 


192 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


A ground plate of good size, properly buried, is undoubtedly 
the most satisfactory alternative for the underground pipe system, 
but is not advised where the pipe system is available. 

A heavy iron casting, such as a large pulley, having a super¬ 
ficial area of at least 12 square feet could be used in place of the 
plate. The conductor should be connected to the casting by rivet¬ 
ing and soldering and the casting buried the same as the ground 
plate above described. 

This method is preferable to method B in sandy soil. 

2. NUMBER OF GROUND CONNECTIONS: 

There shall be not less than four ground connections on any 
building, one at each corner of a square or oblong building. 

An L shaped building will require at least five and a T shaped 
building at least six ground connections. 

3. CONDUCTORS. 

(All conductors are commonly spoken of as rods.) 

The conductors or rods shall be of copper, weighing not less 
than 4 ounces per foot. The rods shall be loosely woven or 
stranded in such manner that there will be considerable “give 
and take” so that they will not be misplaced by the settling of 
the building when loaded. 

The rods should be carried from the peak to the eaves of 
the building, then down the sides to the groundings and should 
never be carried over the cornice at any point except at eaves. 

The metal eave spouts and down spouts as well as metal 
ridge should be fastened to the rods by a soldered connection. 

The upper horizontal conductor should be carried along the 
most exposed part of the roof as that is where the lightning is 
most liable to strike. 

4. AIR TERMINALS: 

The air terminals are the pointed elevations extending from 
the conductor into the air. They should in general be located 
not more than 25 feet apart and in addition, upon all high or 
prominent parts of the roof such as cupolas, chimneys, texas of 
mill or elevator, ventilators, etc. The main points to be ob¬ 
served in choosing the air terminals are substantial construction 
with features provided for making good permanent, connection to 
the rod and solid fastening to the roof. 

5. METAL IN THE BUILDING: 

Metal apparatus such as piping (other than gas piping), 
metal water tanks in the attic, etc., should be connected to the 
conductor. The connection to the conductor should be made as 
near the roof as possible, and the lower end grounded if the run 
is vertical. 

(a) — Rods need not be insulated from the building. 

(b) — As few joints as possible shall be used and all joints 

shall be made electrically and mechanically secure and 
protected from corrosion. 

(c) —The rods shall run in as near a direct line as possible, 

avoiding sharp bends and inclining downward. They 
shall never run through iron pipes. 


LIGHTNING PROTECTION 


193 



GRAIN ELEVATORS AND WAREHOUSES. 

Metal Clad Buildings 

The ideal lightning rod system would he one in the form of 
a rat trap construction set over a building, the wires close to¬ 
gether and grounded. Buildings with completely iron clad sides, 
eaves, cornice and roof give nearly the same condition when prop¬ 
erly grounded. 

1.—GROUNDS: 

Same as for rod systems, see figure 19, and specifications 
for rod systems. 

2—CONDUCTORS: 

On two of the corners, rods shall extend up the corners and 
over the eaves, the end being fanned out, and soldered to the metal 
roofing. On the remaining corners, the metal cladding must be 
grounded by approved rods to approved grounds. 

3. AIR TERMINALS: 

At least two air terminals should be installed on the highest, 
portion of the building, and connected to the metal roof by a sol¬ 
dered connection. 

This form of protection is considered standard, and the 10 
-cent credit on the mutual basis rate is allowed. 











194 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


FLOUR MILLS. 

Where Flour Mills are rodded for protection against lightning, 
the above general rules and in addition, the following special 
rules shall be observed: 

(a) —The ground conductors, that is, those connecting the 

points and ridge conductors to ground, shall not be more 
than 30' from each other on sides of building. There shall 
be ground conductors at each corner. 

(b) —Special attention must be given to the metal work in 

and on the building, and each property will present a 
special problem and receive special consideration. In 
general, all metal work on the outside of the building 
should be connected to the ground rods. This to apply to 
dust Collector vents. Dust collector vents which are not 
metal, should be screened with 1" mesh screen connected 
to the ground by soldered connections. 

(c) —Interior vertical metal work, such as elevator legs, 

spouts and wind trunks, should be grounded at the lower 
end. A water pipe, which in most cases will be avail¬ 
able, is the best ground. All interior metal work which 
is extensive, may require grounding. 

Figure 50 illustrates different methods of rodding a small 
mill, warehouse and tank. 

LIGHTNING PROTECTION OF TELEPHONE LINES. 

In the past there has not been enough attention paid to the 
lightning protection on telephone lines. For proper protection refer 
to Rule 35-E of the code and cut on back thereof. 


i 

i 



















CHAPTER XIV 

SUPERIOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 





SUPERIOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 


201 


CHAPTER XIY. 

SUPERIOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. 

FIRE RESISTIVE BUILDINGS. 

The term FIRE PROOF, although often used, has no legitimate 
place in our vocabulary. No building material available is proof 
against damage by fire. Certain classes of construction, however, 
do have the ability to resist fires to a very great extent, and as such 
are FIRE RESISTIVE and should be so called. 

It was originally considered that non-combustible material was 
all that was needed to make buildings fire resistive. In the early 
attempts at fire resistive construction, iron was considered very 
desirable, and it was not deemed necessary to protect it. Unfor¬ 
tunately, many of our clients today consider that unprotected iron 
or steel columns and girders are desirable for superior construc¬ 
tion. That is not the case. They have no superior qualities what- 
so-ever. In fact, unprotected steel or iron is inferior to heavy 
timbers, since at a low temperature it loses its rigidity and buckles. 

Brick or stone for building purposes are probably as desirable 
from a fire resistive standpoint, as any class of construction, but 
their use is limited principally to wall construction, and the cost 
is excessive. 

Modern construction favors protected steel or reinforced con¬ 
crete, because of ease of construction, durability, lighter weight and 
fire resisting properties. In recent fires, such construction has 
given very satisfactory results. 

Steel beams and girders may be protected by brick, solid con¬ 
crete, or a combination of concrete and brick, metal lath and ce¬ 
ment laster, hollow tile, terra cotta and plaster. Of these, concrete 
or cement plaster, on metal lath, are the most adaptable for general 
use, and are probably the most desirable. Brick, or brick and 
concrete are also very desirable. 

We are not so much concerned here with the nature of the 
protection as we are with the fact that unprotected iron or steel is 
not desirable and any building so constructed cannot be considered 
any way as being of superior construction. It is improper to rate 
Mill and Elevator buildings as “fire resistive” “slow burning” or 
“sub standard” construction when unprotected steel or iron is used. 


SLOW BURNING OR STANDARD MILL CONSTRUCTION. 

The aim of this class of construction is to prevent rapid spread¬ 
ing of fire, by doing away with all possible corners or edges, and 
all concealed spaces where fire may catch, and by doing away 
with all openings which may cause fire to spread. In other words, 
it aims to present a solid surface of smooth heavy materials. To 
that end, the first consideration is non-combustible walls. The 
next consideration is proper interior construction which is out¬ 
lined as follows: 

No posts to be less than 8"x8" and all posts should be self 
bearing from the foundation up. In other words, the posts should 
rest on top of each other, and not on the beams. The idea is that if 
they do set on top of beams, then, in case a beam is burned or 
broken, the post resting on it and consequently all the structure 
supported by that post, will be affected. Posts should not be spaced 
less than 12' apart. 


202 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


Beams should never he smaller than 10"xl0" except for roof 
timbers supporting light spans and they should never be less than 
8"x8" on the upper floors and shall be correspondingly larger on 
lower floors. They should not be closer together than 8'. All tim¬ 
bers should be self releasing. The idea is to so support them that 
if they burn in two, they will be free to fall without pulling down 
part of the side walls or interior supports. They must be solid; 
built up timbers and posts do not answer the purpose. 

Floors should be of plank splined together with a one inch 
dressed floor on top and two layers of water proofing between. The 
total thickness of the floor should never be less than four inches. 
They should have a slope for draining of about 1" in 20'. See figure 
9, page 60, for different types of floors. 

The roof should be constructed of 3" plank splined together 
and covered with a suitable roofing. 

There should be standard scuppers so installed that there will 
be a total discharge capacity of 100 gallons per minute for each 
500 sq. ft. of floor area. 

There should be as few openings between floors as possible. 
All stairways, passenger elevators, and freight elevators should be 
in separate towers or wells, properly cut off. 

The cleaning addition should be cut off. That is not necessary 
but it is very desirable. If it is cut off, an additional credit for 
it applies. 

All light and power wiring shall be installed in accordance 
with our specifications for a standard installation. 

All communicating openings shall be protected by double stand¬ 
ard fire doors, one of which must be automatic, and all exposed 
windows shall be protected by standard shutters or wire glass in 
metal sash. # 

SEMI-MILL CONSTRUCTION. 

Semi-mill construction is about the same as standard mill con¬ 
struction, except the passenger elevator is not enclosed, and the 
stairways and freight elevator is not in a tower or well, but must 
be cut off by standard hatches, or else enclosed in a frame en¬ 
closure with self closing doors. 

A building that approaches a standard mill constructed building 
but cannot be so rated because the size of timbers or the weight 
of the floors are not up to specification, may possess sufficient su¬ 
perior qualities to rate as sub-standard. That rests with the judg¬ 
ment of the inspector. 

OTHER SUPERIOR COSTRUCTION. 

Many mill buildings have recently been built of reinforced 
concrete posts and beams, with brick or tile curtain wall and con¬ 
crete roof, with possibly the first one or two floors of concrete. 
The remaining floors are usually heavy plank. This type of con¬ 
struction certainly has many very desirable features and where the 
stairways, passenger elevators and freight elevators are in a sepa¬ 
rate tower or well, they are superior to Standard Mill constructed 
buildings. There is no rate prescribed for this type of construction, 
and any credit for it must be an arbitrary credit. They should be 
referred to the home office for rating. The usual practice has been 
to allow them at least as much credit as for a standard mUl con¬ 
structed building. 


SUPERIOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 203 
DETAILS OF STANDARD MILL CONSTRUCTION 


Defoi/ v5 howinej 
self releasing 

limber insldilation . 


Roo /p/qn 


Wo//, roo/ timbers 
ond //pshincj on 
edye of roof. 



zinc /1Q$hiny 
R oof in o 
ik 


gast 1 non 
wq// plqfe 



—2 Iqyers of 
wafer proof mqr /. 

Sp/ined floor plank <5% 


Me/*?/ 


Rib fo receive rrof cA m ffird** 

Dei a)! sbowiny 
floor co nstr ucti on 
ond method o/ 
insfqlhny posts 
qnd floor timbers. 


Figure 51. 


















































































204 


THE PIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


SPECIFICATIONS FOR STANDARD SLOW BURNING OR MILL 
CONSTRUCTION BUILDING. 

Brick or stone with double floors and with standard thickness 
in walls of one-story building, 12"; two story, 16", 12"; Three story, 
20", 16", 12"; Four story, 20", 16", 16", 12". For more than (4) 
four stories pay particular attention to footings and walls as they 
must be increased in thickness. 

CEILINGS. 

Whitewashed or painted with approved fire-retardant paint. 

FLOOR OPENINGS. 

Stairways and elevators to be in brick, or concrete shaft with 
standard approved fire doors. 

CHUTES. 

To have standard self-closing floor or wall traps. 

AREA. 

One fire division or area not to exceed 5,000 square feet ground 
area. 

ROOF. 

To be metal, slate or composition covered with gravel. Roof 
timbers and floor timbers must be self-releasing, so that they may 
fall without injuring walls. Roof boards to be 3" plank. 

FLOORS. 

To be of spruce or yellow pine, 3%" or more in thickness ac¬ 
cording to the floor loads, spiked directly to the floor timbers and 
kept at least %" clear of the face of the brick walls. This space 
shall be covered by a moulding so arranged that it will not interfere 
with expansion and contraction of floors. On this should be placed 
two or three layers of heavy tarred paper laid to break joints, each 
to be mopped with hot tar or similar material to produce a reason¬ 
ably water-tight and dust-tight floor. On this should be laid the 
flooring, preferably of maple. The renewal of the maple flooring 
is made much easier if a soft wood floor is laid between it and the 
paper. Figure 9, page 60, show different kinds of floors. 

LANTERN OR SKYLIGHT ON ROOF. 

On brick or stone building to be iron-clad, with openings pro¬ 
tected by wire glass in metal frames. 

CORNICE. 

Brick or stone. 

LIGHTING. 

Incandescent electric in accordance with rules of Mill Mutual 
Fire Insurance Companies’ code. Standard conduit construction 
strongly recommended. 

DIVISION WALLS AND CUT-OFFS. 

Thickness of division walls should not be less than specified 
for standard building, and should extend above roof at least 3'. 
Doorways to be protected by standard approved fire doors at each 
side of opening, except openings into stair tower, elevator or power 
shaft where single fire doors will be accepted. Nearby exposing win¬ 
dows in angle between two fire sections in brick buildings, or above 
roof, should be bricked up or protected by approved labeled fire 
shutters or wire glass in approved labeled metal frames. 

EXTERIOR OPENINGS. 

If exposed, to be protected with approved labeled fire shutters 
or wire glass in approved metallic frames. 

SCUPPERS. 

To be placed at frequent intervals on each floor to carry off 
maximum amount of water. 


SUPERIOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 


205 


DETAIL OF iSEAjT^/Ll a 0AAS7 KUC7/GM 



Automatic Trap Door. 



St airway Enclosure. 

fUFCTHtK C>£TfJU-S Of/ f{£QU£ST. 


Figure 52. 













































206 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


BOILERS. 

To be outside in detached boiler house, or thoroughly cut off 
by standard wall and standard approved fire doors. 

OILY WASTE. 

To be kept in approved metal waste cans. 

BOILER STACK. 

To be brick, or reinforced concrete. 

FIRE PROTECTION. 

Casks and pails. To have 1 cask of water and 2 pails at head 
of each stair and if building is large, at ends also. Approved chem¬ 
ical fire extinguishers are recommended in addition. 

GENERAL 

Cleaning machinery or corn sheller to be in separate building 
or division, cut off by standard approved fire doors. 

Elevator heads to be hoppered to the down leg at an angle 
of 45°. 

No fire-heat dryer or roaster inside building. 

No saw mill, coffee or spice machinery or power repair shops 
will be permitted inside building. 

Mill should be roomy and machinery in plain sight and easily 


Main driving shaft should be on brick or stone foundation and 
not attached to wood posts. 

If electric power, motor or generator, to be installed in accord¬ 
ance with Flour Mill Mutual Code. 

If electric flour bleacher used, same to be installed in accord¬ 
ance with Flour Mill Mutual Code. 

SPECIFICATIONS FOR SEMI-MILL CONSTRUCTION. 

BUILDINGS. 

Brick or stone with double floors and with standard thickness in 
walls of one story building, 12"; two story, 16". 12"; three story, 
20", 16", 12"; four story, 20", 16", 12". For more than four stories, 
particular attention should be paid to walls and footings. 

CEILINGS. 

Whitewashed or painted with approved fire retardant paint. 

FLOOR OPENINGS. 

Stairways and freight elevators to be enclosed, each floor with 
self-closing doors or automatic hatches with fusible link. Pas¬ 
senger elevator openings to be protected by galvanized shield at¬ 
tached to lower side of floor extending down into room at least 
24" Chutes to have automatic hatch or wall trap with fusible link. 

ROOF. 

To be metal, slate or composition covered with gravel. Roof 
timbers and floor timbers must be self-releasing so that they may 
fall without injuring walls. Roof boards to be 3" plank. 

AREA. 

Ground area not to exceed 5,000 square feet. 

LANTERN OR SKY-LIGHT. 

On brick or stone building to be iron-clad, with openings pro¬ 
tected by wire glass in metal frames. 

CORNICE. 

Brick or stone. 

HEATING. 

To be steam or hot water. 

DIVISION WALLS AND CUT-OFFS. 

Thickness of division walls should not be less than specified 
for standard buildings, and should extend above roof at least 3'. 
Doorways to be protected by standard approved fire doors at each 


SUPERIOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 


207 




















































































































208 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


side of opening, except openings into stair tower, elevator or 
power shaft where single fire doors will be accepted. Nearby ex¬ 
posing windows in angle between two fire sections in brick build¬ 
ings, or above roof, should be bricked up or protected by approved 
labeled fire shutters or wire glass in approved labeled metal 
frames. 

EXTERIOR OPENINGS. 

If seriously exposed, to be protected with approved labeled fire 
shutters or wire glass in approved labeled metallic frames. 

BOILERS. 

To be outside in detached boiler house, or thoroughly cut off 
by standard wall and standard approved fire doors. 

OILY WASTE. 

To be kept in approved metal cans. For good waste and oil 
container see figure 56. 

BOILER STACK. 

To be brick, reinforced concrete or metal stack on brick base, 
to extend at least one foot above boiler house roof. 

FIRE PROTECTION. 

Casks and pails. To have 1 cask of water and 2 pails at head 
of each stair and if building is large, at ends also. Approved 
chemical fire extinguishers are recommended in addition. 

GENERAL 

Cleaning machinery or corn sheller should be in separate 
building or division, cut off by standard approved fire doors. 

Elevator heads to be hoppered to the down leg at an angle 
of 45 degrees. 

No fire heat dryer or roaster inside building. 

No saw mill, coffee or spice machinery or power repair 
shops will be permitted inside building. 

Mill should be roomy and machinery in plain sight and easily 
accessible. 

Main driving shaft should be on brick or stone foundation 
and not attached to wood posts. 

If electric power, motor or generator, to be installed in ac¬ 
cordance with Flour Mill Mutual Code. 

If electric flour bleacher used, same to be installed in ac¬ 
cordance with Flour Mill Mutual Code. 



Figure 55. 


















SUPERIOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 


209 


HANDLING OF OIL. AND WASTE 

Figure 56 represents a cabinet with a sink about 6 inches 
deep. The oil cans sit on a wire screen while being filled 
and any overflow goes into the sink. The lower part of the cabinet 
is useful for storage of oil cans and grease, as well as clean waste. 
A standard metal waste can stands at the end. 

TESTS OF BUILDING COLUMNS 

The recently completed fire tests of building Columns, which 
were made at the Underwriters Laboratories in Chicago, were of 
great interest to everyone connected in any way with problems of 
construction, especially contractors, and insurance men, and when 
we say insurance men, every property owner is concerned, because 
these same insurance men judge his risk, and his insurance rate 
is based upon the type of construction, and so, after briefly describ¬ 
ing the general method of testing the columns, we will endeavor 
to discuss those which most directly concern the milling industry. 
We admit that probably at one time or another practically every 
kind of column has been used in flour mill construction, but we 
will consider only the most general types. 



Bureau Standard 810. 












210 


THE FIELDMEN ’S MANUAL 


The primary purpose of the tests was to note the resistance 
of all modern types of building columns, when loaded to capacity 
and exposed to fire alone, and to fire and water together. Tests 
were made on columns of unprotected steel of numerous patterns, 
unprotected cast iron of different designs, unprotected timbers, and 
unprotected iron pipe, as well as varied forms of reinforced con¬ 
crete. These, with the exception of the last named, were in turn 
tested when protected by different materials, such as plaster, tile, 
brick, gypsum and concrete. In all, there were some 150 separate 
and distinct tests made. 

The columns were mathematically designed to carry approxi¬ 
mately 100,000 pounds, and were all the same length, namely, 12 
feet, 8 inches. The load was maintained constant during the test, 
the efficiency of the column or its covering, being determined by 
the length of time it withstood the combined load and fire exposure. 

The testing furnace was made of brick and fire clay blocks 
and was fitted with windows or peep holes of mica, for observa¬ 
tion. Pressure was applied from above, to represent the sup¬ 
ported floors, while heat was obtained by combustion of illuminat¬ 
ing gas. The engineers at the Laboratories worked upon this 
equipment for 18 months before the tests were made. Records of 
every detail of the test were taken. The answers obtained are 
absolute and forever do away with all guess work. 

Let us now consider examples of columns which have most 
to do with the mill building. As I have said before, we could no 
doubt find every known type of column in use in mills about the 
country, but as the most used type is the wooden timber, and the 
most misunderstood is the unprotected steel, we will consider 
those, together with cast iron and reinforced concrete. 

No doubt you all know that certain types of heavy timber 
construction, take a reduced insurance rate, and knowing this, 
some of you have wondered why this same, or a greater reduction, 
is not made in buildings supported by unprotected steel or cast 
iron. Some of you may have said, “Why, steel can’t burn and 
wood can. Why not a reduction in rate for steel?” If any of you 
have said this, either to yourself or others, read, and be con¬ 
vinced, for these tests show “things as they are.” 

Subjected to the same pressure and under like conditions, the 
unprotected steel column of what is known as rolled H design, a 
type quite common, lasted only 11 minutes, the unprotected cast 
iron column lasted only 35 minutes, and the unprotected timber 
column, which had a cross sectional area 11 inches x 11 inches, 
lasted only 50 minutes. The temperature of course rose higher as 
time went on. Reproduced below is the temperature curve used 
in these tests, figure 58, page 213. If you will refer to that you will 
see that at the duration of 11 minutes, the time of failure of unpro¬ 
tected steel, the temperature was about 1300° F. and at 35 minutes 
the point where the cast iron failed, the temperature was slightly 
over 1500° F. and at 50 minutes, or the-time of failure of the timber 
column, the temperature was 1700° F. 

Now you will readily understand why no credit is given for 
unprotected steel construction. Wooden timbers lasted nearly 5 
times as long, and were subjected to four hundred degrees more 
heat than the unprotected steel column. The round cast iron 
was considerably better than the unprotected steel but still not 
equal to the timber. 


SUPERIOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 


211 


<0 

• 




I? 




1 




IT 

£ 

& 

5- 

£ 

r 























































. 1 1 








T.I 11 








k • 

p* 

' »§ !!! s: u § m § S ® 

1 

Sf^ 5 5*52 £ 

^ 1 sgl 1 

| ^ l! ts ^ 1 

ir 1 g 11 5 § isi s 

i 8 »l 

5 £5 b § 

i S §§ 

1 ^ § § 


Figure 57. 





























212 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


Let us now briefly follow down through the tests on the accom¬ 
panying chart, figure 57, page 211. 

Test number 15 labeled partly protected structural steel, lasted 
48 minutes, or two minutes less than the unprotected timber. By 
partly protected structural steel in this instance is meant the fill¬ 
ing of channels of the rolled H column out even with the edge of 
the flanges with concrete. This gave protection on two sides with 
two sides exposed. 

The next ones on the diagram are tests number 24 and 27, 
which consisted of two coats of Portland Cement Plaster on woven 
metal lath, each layer being % inch thick with a % inch air space 
between layers, applied to the plate and channel steel column 
number 24, and also to the round cast iron column number 27. 
You will see that the cast iron lasted the longer of the two, being 
very nearly three hours in the furnace before failure. The plate 
and channel column lasted 2 hours and 24 minutes. 

Following on down the chart we find number 48 to be the 
rolled H column and number 52 to be the plate and channel, both 
protected by 2 inch clay tile. As you can see, this protection was 
not as good as the metal lath and plaster. 

In tests number 30 and 38 the rolled H and the plate channel 
columns respectively were protected by 2 inches of concrete, and 
the time limit is considerably better. It might be well to note that 
this was the only instance where the steel column outlasted the 
cast iron one. 

The last test we will consider is number 70 or reinforced con¬ 
crete column, with vertical reinforcements. This column with¬ 
stood the 8 hour test and failed only upon the application of 
294,000 pounds pressure. This column, as might be supposed, was 
the best type of any tested. 

In the fire and water tests each of the above types of pro¬ 
tected columns were subjected to 45 minutes of fire and from 3 to 5 
minutes of water applied to 3 sides of the column through a 2 y 2 
inch hose with 1y 8 inch nozzle. The concrete and hollow tile pro¬ 
tections washed off or checked quite badly while the metal lath 
and cement plaster was one of the least affected, which confirms 
our long established preference for that type of protection. The 
only type of wall board tested was Gypsum Wall Board which 
checked and washed off almost completely. 

In conclusion there is little to say. The foregoing figures with 
the accompanying charts leave little to be enlarged upon. Let us 
repeat that these tests have eliminated for all time, the guess work 
on fire resisting qualities of different building column materials. 
They are absolute and undebatable. 

In a standard mill constructed building, we require the use of 
heavy timbers and floors, eliminating as far as possible all places 
where dust and debris may accumulate, and at the same time giv¬ 
ing a smooth, regular surface, which is much harder for fire to 
work on. This does away with the open joist construction and 
merits a considerable reduction in rate. The foregoing tests have 
substantiated these requirements by proving conclusively the supe¬ 
riority of heavy timbers over unprotected steel. 


SUPERIOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 


213 


Z4M 

^220C 

%^/800 


\1400 
^/aoo 
^/ooc 
\$oo 
%600 
^00 
%zoo 


.c 


/ Z >3 4- 

T~/me //? /-faurs 


Figure 58. 


PROPOSED T /ME- TEMPERATURE CURVE 





































































CHAPTER XV 
WATCHMAN’S SERVICE 




WATCHMAN’S SERVICE 


221 


CHAPTER XT. 

WATCHMAN’S SERVICE. 

There are three classes of watchman’s service authorized for 
credit: namely—Watchman with approved portable clock or other 
approved time recording device; A. D. T (American District Tele¬ 
graph) or other approved supervisory service, and Combined 
service. 

WATCHMAN AND CLOCK SERVICE. 

The essentials of this service are given in the Watchman and 
Clock Clause attached to policies covering properties credited with 
such service 

WATCHMAN, WITH APPROVED WATCH CLOCK CLAUSE. 

In consideration of a reduction of twenty-five cents (25c) 
in the basis rate at which this policy is written, the assured 
hereby agrees to maintain a watchman provided with an 
approved Watch Clock to watch day and night at all times 
when the machinery is not running, excepting when other 
employees are on duty, and then he is relieved from dutv 
only in the day time while such other employees are actually 
on the premises; and it is particularly understood and agreed 
that the first duty of the watchman is the care and examina¬ 
tion of the property in his charge, and he shall be reauired 
to examine all fast running bearings, commencing immed¬ 
iately after machinery shuts down and make at least three 
thorough and careful examinations of machinery and bear¬ 
ings, one each hour after machinery stops running; and 
there shall be at least one watch clock station on each floor 
of each building covered by this policy, including the engine 
and boiler house, whether insured or not, to each of which 
stations he shall make hourly rounds, while on duty: and 
the assured further agrees to date all watch clock records 
and file same in a fire-proof safe, if kept on the premises, 
or in some safe place outside the premises not endangered 
by a fire therein, retaining same for a period of not less 
than ninety (90) days, subject to examination of inspectors; 
and at the termination of ninety (90) day periods ending 
Sept. 1, Dec. 1, March 1 and June 1, all records to be for¬ 
warded to the Mutual Fire Prevention Bureau at Chicago, 

Ill., for examination and checking, to determine whether 
or not the service conforms to the requirements for above 
credit; failure on the part of the assured to furnish records 
as per this agreement, to be prima facie evidence that the 
assured is not entitled to credit for the service maintained. 

It is hereby warranted by the assured that the conditions 
herein named shall be observed, and failing to do so. it is 
agreed that the credit allowed for the service shall be for¬ 
feited for a period of six months, the amount so forfeited 
to be added to the first assessment made after the breach 
of conditions is established. 

Attached to and made part of policy No. 
of the 

Date Agent. 

It is required that there shall be a sufficient number of stations 
and so located as to require the watchman to visit all portions of 
the property. Your attention is particularly called to the clause 
requiring careful examination of bearings and machinery for the 
three hours following the shut-down of machinery. This is desira¬ 
ble for the reason that while the machinery is running, the circu¬ 
lation of air will often keep the outside of the bearing cool. After 
shut-down, the circulation of air is stopped and the heat on the 
inside of the bearing is conducted to the outside, and if grease and 
dust are present, a fire usually results, sometimes from two to 
three hours after the machinery is stopped. 

The breach of the Watchman’s Clause contract will not void 
the policy, but merely causes the assured to forfeit the credit. 


222 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


WATCHMAN WITH MESSENGER SERVICE. 

The clause attached to policies covering this service reads as 
follows: 

WATCHMAN, AVlTH MESSENGER SERVICE CLAUSE. 

In consideration of a reduction of fifteen cents. (15c.) in 
the basis rate, at which this policy is written, the assured 
hereby agrees to maintain a watchman to watch day and 
night at all times when the machinery is not runnipg; 
excepting when other employees are on duty, and then he 
is relieved from duty only in the day time while such other 
employees are actually on the premises; and it is particu¬ 
larly understood and agreed that the first duty of the watch¬ 
man is the care and examination of the property in his 
charge and he shall be required to examine all fast running 
bearings, commencing immediately after machinery shuts 
down and make at least three thorough and careful exam¬ 
inations of machinery and bearings, one each hour after ma¬ 
chinery stops running; reported by the 

night watch and fire alarm signal system through stations 
so distributed as to require that all parts of the premises 
covered by this policy shall be patrolled at intervals of one 
hour, including the boiler and engine room whether insured 
or not. Said service contract to con¬ 

tain messenger service clause and be approved by Insurance 
Companies Inspection Department; and the assured further 
agrees to date all records and file same in a fire proof safe, 
if kept on the premises, or in some safe place outside the 
premises not endangered by a fire therein; retaining for a 
period of not less than ninety (90) days; subject to exam¬ 
ination of inspectors; and at the termination of the ninety 
(90) day periods ending. Sept. 1, Dec. 1, March 1 and June 1. 
all records to be forwarded to the Mutual Fire Prevention 
Bureau at Chicago, Ill., for examination and checking, to 
determine whether or not the service conforms to the re¬ 
quirements for above credit; failure on the part of the as¬ 
sured to furnish records as per this agreement, to be prima 
facie evidence that the assured is not entitled to credit for 
the service maintained. 

It is hereby warranted by the assured that the conditions 
herein named shall be observed and failing to do so. it is 
agreed that the credit allowed for the service shall be for¬ 
feited for a period of six months, the amount so forfeited 
to be added to the first assessment made after the breach 
of conditions is established. 

Attached to and made part of Policy No. 

of the 

Date 

Agent. 

The standard requirement is that there shall he at least four 
(4) stations connected with some central supervisory office. The 
impulse, when the station is pulled, is carried over wires to the 
central office and recorded on a tape run by clock-work. If the 
station is not pulled within the time stated in the contract (5 to 10 
minutes), a messenger is to be sent to the protected property and 
the reason discovered. The watchman is required to sign a slip 
showing reason for lapse. A clerk at the central station shall 
record the time each station is pulled on a card to be mailed to the 
assured. The same requirements as to examination of bearings 
and forfeiture of credit apply here. 

Another division of this Service is: WATCHMAN WITH 
STANDARD MESSENGER SERVICE: 

This differs from the Sub-Standard in the following respects: 
(a) The number of the stations must be about the same as would 
be required for clock service; in other words, a sufficient number 
to fully cover the property. 


WATCHMAN'S SERVICE 


223 


(b) The station boxes must be of the approved type, the most 
common of which is illustrated by Fig.- 




Figure 59. 

“Pulling” station on reerular 
round by inserting key, turning 
it once and removing key. 


Figure 60. 

Turning in fire alarm by break¬ 
ing glass, opening door and pull¬ 
ing lever down once. 


(c) The central station must have been approved by the Mu¬ 
tual Fire Prevention Bureau. 

The clause used with this service is the same as Sub-Standard 
Service, except that forty cents (40c) is substituted for fifteen cents 
(15c) and the word “Sub” eliminated from the title. 

Fire alarm service is included in this service, that is, the cen¬ 
tral station must be connected to the fire department before Bureau 
approval is granted. 

COMBINED SERVICE. 

This combines the watchman and watchclock service and the 
Sub-Standard Messenger Service with Fire alarm service addi¬ 
tional. The clause reads as follows: 

COMBINED 

Watchman, with Approved Clock and Supervisory 
Messenger and Fire Alarm Signal Service Clause. 

In consideration of a reduction of twenty-five cents (25c.) 
in the basis rate, at which this policy is written, the assured 
hereby agrees to maintain a watchman provided with an 
approved Watch Clock to watch day and night at all times 
when the machinery is not running; excepting when other 
employees are on duty, and then he is relieved from duty 
only in the day time while such other employees are actually 
on the premises; and it is particularly understood and agreed 
that the first duty of the watchman is the care and exam¬ 
ination of the property in his charge and he shall be reauired 
to examine all fast running bearings, commencing immed¬ 
iately after machinery shuts down and make at least three 
thorough and careful examinations of machinery and bear¬ 
ings, one each hour after machinery stops running: and there 
shall be at least one watch clock station on each floor of 
each building covered by this policy, including the engine 
and boiler house, whether insured or not, to each of which 
stations he shall make hourly rounds, while on duty; and 
further i 

In consideration of an additional reduction of fifteen cents 
(15c) in the basis rate at which this policy is written, the 
assured agrees to maintain a night watch and fire alarm 
signal system, in connection with the watchman and clock, 
with at least four signal stations and four alarm stations, 
reporting to a central receiving station, having messenger 
service and facilities for notifying fire department, reports 
to be rung in from each night watch station at least once 
each hour. (Contract with night watch and fire alarm 
signal system company to be approved by insurance com- 




224 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


panies representatives.) Signal boxes and fire alarm sta¬ 
tions to be located, one on top floor of premises, one in power 
plant and the balance at convenient intermediate joints, 
and the assured further agrees to date all records and file 
same in a fire proof safe, if kept on the premises, or in some 
safe place outside the premises not endangered by a fire 
therein* retaining same for a period of not less than ninety 
(90) days* subject to examination of inspectors; and at the 
termination of the ninety (90) day periods ending, Sept. 1, 
Dec. 1, March 1 and June 1, all records to be forwarded to 
the Mutual Fire Prevention Bureau at Chicago, Ill., for 
examination and checking, to determine whether or not the 
service conforms to the requirements for above credit: 
failure on the part of the assured to furnish records as per 
this agreement to be prima facie evidence that the assured 
is not entitled to credit for the service maintained. 

It is hereby warranted by the assured that the conditions 
herein named shall be observed and failing to do so. it is 
agreed that the credit allowed for the service shall be for¬ 
feited for a period of six months, the amount so forfeited 
to be added to the first assessment made after the breach 
of conditions is established. 

Attached to and made part of Policy No. of 

the 

Date 

Ae:ent 


The same general requirements apply as for the two services 
mentioned above. 

INSPECTION. 

When the service is to' be installed, the fieldman should go 
over the property with the man in charge and assist him to locate 
the stations that it will be necessary for the watchman to visit all 
parts of the property on each round. 

If the system is already in use, the inspector should note loca¬ 
tions of stations and make necessary recommendations. 

Subsequent inspections should check up the service by looking 
at dials. All dials are inspected at the Bureau quarterly. 

In reporting new watchman’s service, the following card should 
be filled out and forwarded to the Bureau. 

TO BE USED FOR REPORTING WATCHMAN’S OR A. D. T. 

SERVICE. 

Location 

Address 

Assured 

Class 

Insurance Company 

Service Approved By Inspector 

Date Approved 

Type of Service 

Credit $ 

Mutual Fire Prevention Bureau 

SERVICE WHEN MIDU IS NOT RUNNING. 

The watchman is required to be on duty every night when the 
mill is not running, and during the day, including Sunday, when 
the mill is not running, unless there are several men on the prem¬ 
ises doing repair or similar work. 

The Bureau recommends that the clock be punched every night 
whether the mill is running or not. Usually there is no one in the 
buildings other than the mill. Some mills are doing this and find 
the results to be beneficial. They usually have this done by one of 
the night employees. Instances of finding men around the plant 
asleep or otherwise neglecting their duty as well as incipient fires 
are reported. 















CHAPTER XVI 
FUMIGATION 





FUMIGATION 


231 


CHAPTER XVI. 

FUMIGATION. 

(With acknowledgements to Prof. Geo. A. Dean, Entomologist 
Kansas State Agricultural College.) 

Insects injurious to stored grain and grain products, when 
once started, work so vigorously that the farmer or elevator man 
must either kill them, dispose of his grain or allow them seriously to 
damage it, and those injurious in flour mills and warehouses, when 
once they have gained a foothold, multiply so rapidly that the miller 
must either control them or allow them to cause serious damage and 
loss to his mill products. 

Nearly all of the more than seventy species known in the United 
States have been introduced by commerce, and the more serious 
ones, numbering about twenty, are now commonly distributed over 
the greater part of the United States. All of these species are of 
small size, none of the beetles exceeding five-eighths of an inch in 
length, and most of them being less than one-fourth of an inch long 
They are reddish, brown, or black in color. The moths are tiny 
“millers” and with the exception of the Angoumois grain moth, the 
work of their larvae in bins, granaries and mills may be distin¬ 
guished from that of the beetles by the presence of web or silk, in 
the grain, bran, meal or flour. Only one of these insects are true 
weevils, although the farmer and the miller usually apply the term 
“weevil” to most of them. 

The principal damage to whole grains is caused by the grain 
weevil, rice weevil, and the Angoumois grain moth. The most 
serious damage and loss in the flour mills is caused by the Mediter¬ 
ranean flour moth. The principal injury to flour is caused by the 
confused flour beetle and the cadelle, while the serious damage to 
meal, bran and breakfast foods is caused by the Indian meal moth, 
the meal snout-moth, and the saw-toothed grain beetle. 

Preventive Methods for the Control of Mill and Stored Grain 

Insects. 

In order that infestation in the stack may be avoided, the 
grain should be threshed as soon after harvesting as practicable. 
Very frequently where the grain is left in the stack until early fall 
it is seriously infested with the Angoumois grain moth and the grain 
weevil. 

Fresh grain should not be exposed to attack by being placed in 
bins or granaries with that already infested. 

Before storing, the old grain should be removed and the floors, 
walls, and ceilings of the bins thoroughly cleaned. 

Since cleanliness is very important in the prevention of injury 
by these insects, all dust, dirt, rubbish, refuse grain, flour, and meal, 
which serve only as breeding-places, should be removed. 

If the grain is infested by the grain or meal moth, frequent 
agitation or handling of the grain will destroy many of them, be¬ 
cause they are unable to free themselves from a mass of it and 
perish in the attempt. 


232 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


Since a large portion of insect infestation in flour mills and 
warehouses is directly traceable to a disregard to cleanliness, it 
is very important to keep the entire plant scrupulously clean by 
sweeping up all accumulations of flour and meal on the floors, in 
the corners, under machinery, and in all other places where it may 
find lodgment. This material should he removed from the mill and 
disposed of in such a manner as not to be brought back into the 
mill. 

About every six weeks during the summer, all accumulations of 
flour or meal should be brushed out or removed from the elevator 
boots and flour conveyors, and destroyed by burning. Before 
removing these accumulations, it is well to go over the elevator legs 
with a spout maul and jar loose the infested accumulations. 

In flour warehouses the floor should be thoroughly swept and 
all accumulations removed after each movement of flour. All walls 
and ceilings of the mill or the warehouse should be smooth, so as 
not to afford hiding and breeding places for the insects. These 
walls and ceilings should either be painted or kept whitewashed. 

in order that infestation be avoided in the dark corners and 
other places in the basement, a liberal amount of air-slaked lime 
should be used. This lime not only will act as a repellant for the 
insects, but will tend to destroy some of the objectionable odors and 
sweeten the air. 

Buildings should be constructed so as to avoid damp, dark 
places. Floors and walls should be joined so that accumulations 
along the edges and in the corners can be easily swept out. 
Floors of all basements should be cement, and all walls should be 
smooth. In almost all old mills and elevators, there are concealed 
spaces under bins, conveyors, dead ends in conveyors, extra useless 
space in the bottom of conveyors, etc., which are truly incubators 
and brooders for these pests. All such places should be searched 
out and eliminated. In several cases where Bureau inspectors have 
been called in because assureds have not been able to eliminate 
moth and weevil, these concealed spaces have been a continual 
source of infection and no possible amount or kind of fumigation 
except the heat method, could be effective. 

All machinery should be placed high enough to allow thor¬ 
ough cleaning and brushing beneath it. As far as practicable, the 
bottoms of all flour conveyors should be metal, and should be round¬ 
ed in such a manner as to allow the least amount of flour or meal 
to accumulate along the sides and at the ends. The hoppers of the 
rolls should be constructed of cement, and in such a manner as to 
allow no flour to accumulate in inaccessible places. 

Sacks or bags should not be stored in packing rooms or in any 
part of the mill where flour or meal may collect on them and thus 
afford breeding places for insects. The sack room should be a sep¬ 
arate room from any part of the mill. 

Since the handling of second-hand sacks affords one of the best 
means of infesting a mill with several of the most serious mill in¬ 
sects, the sacks should be fumigated or treated before being brought 
into the mill, or the practice of handling them should be stopped 
at once. Where sack cleaners are used for second-hand sacks, they 
should always be located in detached buildings so located that con¬ 
tamination of the main buildings will not result. 


A, Larvae, 2*4 times natural size; 


B, female beetie> 3 times natural size. 


THE YELLOW MEAL WORM (Tenebrio obscurus) 

The larva is cylindrical, long, slender, more than an inch long when fully grown, waxen 
in appearance, and resembles a wireworm. The adult is more than half an inch long, bat¬ 
tened, shining, and nearly black. 


22 times natural size. (After Girault) 

THE GRAIN WEEVIL (Calandra Granaria) 

The adult is a small, cylindrical beetle, about one-sixth of an inch in length, with head 
prolonged into a snout; it is from shining chestnut-brown to nearly black in color and 
very firm and hard. The larva is footless, fleshey, maggot-like, and white in color, and 
works inside of the kernel. 





THE ANGOUMOIS GRAIN MOTH (Silotroga cerealella) 

The adult is a small, light, grayisli-brown moth, measuring across the expanded wings 
little over half an inch, with wings narrow, pointed, and bordered with long fringe. Larva, 
a little caterpillar one-fifth of an inch long, yellowish head, six pointed legs; ;t burrows 
into the kernel, and feeds upon the starchy material. 










A, larvae; B and C, dorsal views of moth; D, lateral view of moth; 

two times natural size. 

MEDITERRANEAN FLOUR MOTH (Ephestia kuehniella) 

The adult is a small, tame, pale, leaden-gray moth, measuring less than an inch across 
the expanded wings; the moth, when resting, assumes rather an elevated position in front. The 
caterpillar is whitish or pinkish, slightly hairy and about one-half inch in length; it spins 
silken tubes in the hour, causing it to become pelted and lumpy. 



10 times natural size. 


Adult 


Larvae, 2% times natural size. 

THE BLACK CARPET BEETLE (Attacjenus piceus) 

The adult is a small, oval, black beetle, from two-sixteenths to three-sixteenths of an 
inch in length. The larva varies from light to dark brown, and is almost cylindrical, about 
three-eighths of an inch long, tapering towards the hinder end, where it is furnished with a 
brush of long hairs. It is active. <" 



a,Adult beetle, 3 times natural size; b. larvae; c, appearance of 
larva in flour, l 1 /^ times its natural size. 

THE CADELLE (Tenebroides mauritanious) 

The adult is a black or nearly black flattened beetle about one-third of ah inch long 
oblong in shape, with thorax and abdomen loosely joined together. The larva is a whitish 
somewhat hairy worm, about three-fourths of an inch long, with head and tail dark brown’ 
+1 'o tail ending in two horny pointu. 









FUMIGATION 


233 



a. Beetle; b, larva; e, pupa—all 9 times natural size; d, lateral lobe of abdomen of 
pupa; e, head of beetle, showing antenna; f. (T. ferru-gineum) all greatly enlarged. (After 
Chittenden, U. S. Dept. Agr.) 

THE CONFUSED FLOUR BEETLE 

The beetles are very small, flattened, rustred in color, about one-sixth of an inch long, 
and very common in flour. The larvae are little white worms, about one-fourth of an inch 
long. They are the most common of all flour worms. 



Silvanut surinamejitit.- 


a. Beetle; b, pupa; c, larva; 16 times natural size; d, antenna of larva, much enlarged. 
(After Chittenden, U. S. Dept. Agr.) 

THE SAW-TOOTHED GRAIN BEETLE 

The adult is a very small, slender, flattened, dark-brown beetle, about one-tenth of an 
inch long with thorax having six saw like teetll on each side. Larva a yellowish-white, 
slender, very active worm. 






















THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 



Bureau Standard 811. 






























































FUMIGATION 


235 


, HEAT METHOD. 

7i? at metho( * of fumigation, when properly applied is 
p obably the most satisfactory. It kills all forms of vermin larvae 

E ither methods" 1 ^ eQUlPment to ° nCe inStalled ' is chea » er 

F. tor 0 twenty!Su7hours‘ emPeratUre Sh ° Uld be maiutained at 125 ° 

apply the heat is by the ind irect method; 
thru tho by i he f atlag . air in a steam coil heater and blowing it 
Sf™ tb P a ? t - ? y takmg the suction from the top floor, a com- 

Ulatl T 1S SGt up ’ and if the elevator heads and boots are 
opened up and conveyor and spouting covers removed and ma- 
chines opened, the hot air will circulate thru all parts of them 
thereby getting at the breeding places of the pest. By this method! 

heat^See figure eT^ ° Ver ^ ° VGr again ’ re ^ uirin g much less 

The initial cost of this equipment is not high, and when set up 
costs prEictiCfilly nothing to fumigate the plant thoroughly 
. 1914> one Plant having 152,000 cu. ft. of space, in¬ 

stalled the necessary wind trunk and one #90 American Blower 
steel plate fan, and one American Blower heater (consisting of 

o GCt !? ns 0f # 25 heater coils and casing) at a total cost of 
$594.13. One run of 38 hours cost them $35.85. 

Where the direct system is used, the steam coils should be 
placed on or near the floor, since the heat from them rises, and it 
is very difficult to penerate the cracks and crevices in the lower 
part of the room. 


In a good brick mill with a steam pressure of 25 lbs. to 50 
lbs., one square foot of radiation surface will heat 50 to 100 cu. ft 
of space; with a steam pressure of 90 lbs., about 75% as much 
radiation surface will be required. 

An idea of the radiation surface required for a good brick 
building with steam at 25 lbs. to 50 lbs. pressures, and how it is 
distributed, is given by the table. 

1st floor 1 sq. ft. rad. surface per 50 cu. ft. space. 

2nd floor 1 sq. ft. rad. surface per 60 cu. ft. space. 

3rd floor 1 sq. ft. rad. surface per 75 cu. ft. space. 

4th floor 1 sq. ft. rad. surface per 90 cu. ft. space. 

5th floor 1 sq. ft. rad. surface per 110 cu. ft. space. 

Concerning the amount of radiation required: As good a rule 
as any, is one that has been followed for other locations: fiirst, 
take the window openings in sq. ft., add to that one-fourth of the 
wall surface, then determine the cubical contents, divide by 50 
and add that product to the other two amounts, then multiply this 
by the number of degrees heat you wish to raise. For example, 
if the temperature of the building is 80° and you wish to bring it up 
to 125°, multiply by 45 (the difference between 80 and 125), then 
divide this amount by two times the temperature of the steam. 

The temperature of steam at different pressures is given by 
the following table: 


Steam pressure 
15 
30 
50 
75 
90 


Temperature F 
213° 

250° 

281° 

307° 

320° 


236 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


This rule is applicable for a good brick mill, and should be 
nearly doubled for a frame mill. 

A one inch pipe has .345 sq. ft. of surface per foot m length. 

In using the heat method, it is desirable if possible, to choose 
a bright warm day, when the temperature is 70° or better, and 
apply the heat immediately after shutting down. A windy or rainy 
day should be avoided. All machines, elevator heads and boots, 
conveyors and spouts, should be opened up to give the heat a 
chance to penetrate. 

All openings between floors should be closed, and all windows 
should be protected by paper or blankets to prevent loss of heat. 
Two thicknesses of building paper or car lining have been found to 
be the most practicable. 

There should be a thermometer on each floor and in each 
division. The men in charge can and should make frequent in¬ 
spections without inconvenience, and by the aid of the thermome¬ 
ter, can regulate the temperature. There should be three men on 
duty, each man making a round every hour, thereby bringing the 
inspections 20 minutes apart. At every round the reading of the 
thermometer should be taken and recorded. 

There should be water traps to draw off all water accumu¬ 
lations in the pipes, or they may be drained directly to the out¬ 
side. 

If possible, have the steam pipes arranged so that any one 
floor can be shut off without interfering with the others. 

HYDROYANIC ACID GAS FUMIGATION. 

Up to the time of the discovery of the heat method, hydrocyanic 
acid gas fumigation was considered the most effective means for the 
control of mill insects. Experiments now show, however, that 
while some mill insects succumb very readily to the hydrocyanic 
acid gas, others, including some of the most serious ones, do not 
yield readily to this treatment. If a mill is infested with Mediter¬ 
ranean flour moth, hydrocyanic acid gas is a very effective treatment. 
All stages of this insect, including the eggs, if not covered with 
more than one inch of flour, succumb to the gas. On the other 
hand, if the mill is infested with the several species of flour beetles 
and of grain beetles, and with the cadelle, the gas treatment is of 
little value. In no case where it is possible to use the heat method 
does the Bureau recommend the use of the hydrocyanic acid gas 
treatment, but since it is effective for Mediterranean flour-moth in¬ 
festation and since there are flour mills where it may be impossible 
or impracticable to use the heat method, the hydrocyanic acid gas 
treatment is then recommended as the best method. 

There are necessary for this treatment the sodium cyanide, sul¬ 
phuric acid (best commercial grade, with specific gravity of not less 
than 1.83), water, stone jars (four-gallon size), paper sacks (com¬ 
mon manila, size number 8 and 10 as may be obtained from the 
grocer), and vessels for measuring and carrying of the acid and 
water (one-gallon or two-gallon graniteware cups or pitchers are 
most convenient; tin vessels must not be used.) 

Formula for the production of the gas: Sodium cyanide, by 
weight 3 pounds, avoirdupois; sulphuric acid, by measure, 4Va 
pints; water, by measure, 9 pints. 


FUMIGATION 


237 


Inside measurement of the length, width and height should be 
carefully taken to determine accurately the number of cubic feet 
in each story to be treated, no allowance being made for empty 
bins or machinery. If the building is well constructed and reason¬ 
ably tight, the following standard may be followed for mill fumi¬ 
gation. In the basement use one pound of sodium cyanide to every 
1,000 cubic feet; on the first floor one pound to every 1,200 cubic 
feet of space; on the second floor one pound to every 1,300 cubic 
feet; on the third floor one pound to every 1,500 cubic feet; on the 
fourth and fifth floors one pound to every 1,600 cubic feet. In case 
the floors cannot be handled separately, the amount should be in¬ 
creased on the lower floors and lessened on the upper floors, for 
the gas is light and rises. 

Before stopping the mill, close the feed and let the mill run 
empty. Go over the spouts, the elevator legs, etc., with a spout 
maul to jar the flour or meal loose so that it will run out. Open 
the hand holes, slide doors, etc., in the spouts, the elevator legs, the 
bolters, the purifiers, the rolls, the dust collectors, and the con¬ 
veyors. ; 

All accumulations of flour or meal should be brushed out or re¬ 
moved from the elevator boots, the conveyors, and other places in 
the machinery where flour has lodged. The entire plant should be 
cleaned as thoroughly as possible and this material removed and 
disposed of in such a manner as not to be brought back into the 
mill. 

The building must be as nearly air-tight as possible. Windows 
may be wedged tight. If they are loose, either paper should be 
pasted over cracks or cotton batting should be inserted in the 
openings with a case knife. Cracked panes should either be re¬ 
placed or pasted over with paper. Each floor should be made en¬ 
tirely separate from other floors. All belt holes should be stuffed 
with sacks, and all elevator shafts should be closed. All stairways 
should be closed, or covered by trap doors. 

To provide for ventilation after the fumigation, arrange two op¬ 
posite windows on each floor so that they may be opened by means 
of a stout cord or rope from the outside. 

Place danger signs of fumigation on all sides of the mill, and 
have a watchman guard the mill during fumigation. 

Inasmuch as the insurance companies recognize the necessity 
for occasional fumigation, and understand that inside watchman 
service cannot be maintained at such a time, it is not considered 
necessary that the insurance companies be notified so long as the 
outside watchman is maintained, even though standard watchman 
clause be a part of the insurance contract. 

The Process of Fumigation. 

Measure into each jar the proper amount of water and dis¬ 
tribute the jars so as to afford easy access to them in rows upon 
each floor of the building. Avoid placing them alongside of any 
belt, sacked material, or anything that might be injured from spat¬ 
tering or leakage from the occasional cracking of a jar. 

Measure out the acid and add it to the water in the jars. Al¬ 
ways pour the acid into the water, not water into acid. 

After the jars have been arranged and the acid added, the cyan¬ 
ide should be broken into small lumps, none of which should be 
larger than a hen’s egg, and made up into three-pound packages in 
the double manila sacks; that is, one sack placed inside the other. 


238 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


The cyanide should be handled with leather gloves, and out in the 
open air where the operator may avoid inhaling the dust. Care 
should be taken to avoid any particles flying in the eyes or mouth. 
It is well to protect the eyes with goggles. A bag containing 
cyanide should be left at the side of each jar. Before dropping the 
bags of cyanide into the jars make an inspection of the entire build¬ 
ing to see that all windows are closed and everything ready and in 
its place, so that after the first jar has received its cyanide it will be 
unnecessary to stop to adjust anything. Begin on the upper floor 
of the mill at the end opposite the stairway and place a bag of 
cyanide gently in each jar, passing quickly from one to the other. 
Pass quickly from one floor to the next one below, closing the trap 
door, where the process is repeated until the lower floor or base¬ 
ment is reached where exit is made. The outer doors should be 
locked and a watchman stationed to guard the building until the 
fumigation is completed. A method of lowering cyanide into acid by 
means of strings is shown by figure 62. 

Hydrocyanic acid gas is extremely poisonous, and if the fumes 
are inhaled, they are almost sure to prove fatal. 

Inasmuch as experiments show that below a temperature of 
from 50 degrees F. to 60 degrees F. most mill insects are inactive 
and therefore not affected by the gas, a day should be selected for 
the fumigation when the temperature is 70 degrees F. or above. 
Everything should be done during the day so that the charge can be 
set off in the evening before dark. The building should be allowed 
to fumigate not less than eighteen hours, and, when time will per¬ 
mit, from twenty-four to thirty-six hours. 
























FUMIGATION 


239 


After fumigation, open the windows and doors from without for 
ventilation. Do not enter the mill until it has been aired for at 
least two hours. After the building has aired two hours, the 
operator should enter to open up the stair doors and more of the 
windows, but should not remain in the building until it has aired 
for fifteen or twenty minutes more. 

Collect and dispose of the liquid left in the jars. This should be 
emptied into the sewer or into a pit. Avoid spilling any of the con¬ 
tents of the jars in the mill or on the person. Clean or wash the 
jars before putting them away. They are easily washed with 
water. Sweep up the dead insects before resuming work. 

FREEZING OUT METHOD. 

In the colder parts of the country, the freezing out method 
is sometimes employed. For that purpose, the temperature should 
be around ten below zero to get the best results and should be 
applied for seventy-two hours or more. 

Care should be taken that every thing which might freeze be 
carefully drained. 

All machines, spouts, elevator legs and conveyors should be 
opened up. 

CARBON BISULPHIDE. 

Carbon bisulphide, while having many advantages, is not per¬ 
mitted by our Companies to be used in mills or elevators for 
fumigation, because, when mixed with air it is very explosive. 

Beans and some other grains and seeds may not be fumigated 
by the heat method because it would spoil the grain. Also it is 
sometimes desirable to fumigate incoming second hand sacks, by a 
quick and simple process. To meet this condition the Governing 
Committee, at the recommendation of the Bureau, have approved 
the following indorsement: 

“Permission is hereby granted to' fumigate. 

by means of Bi-Sulphide of Carbon, when used only in a non¬ 
combustible building detached 25 ft. from all other buildings, this 
building to be used for this purpose and no other. This building 
shall have no communication or connection with any other building. 
There must be openings near the top on sides away from other 
buildings which will open automatically in case of explosion. The 
use of Bi-Sulphide of Carbon or storage of same in any other part 
of the premises insured will void this policy.” 

As noted above, the Hydro-cyanic method is not always effective 
against weevil, and, therefore, there is- a great demand for the use 
of bi-sulphide of carbon. It is felt that the method of use outlined 
above will to some extent answer the demand. This fluid may also 
be used to fumigate grain in cars located 25 or more feet from 
buildings. 

Bi-sulphide of carbon may be easily detected by its odor, which 
is very similar to that of rotten eggs. 

FUMOTII OR NO-MOZ. 

Fumoth is a compound, which, when burned, gives off a smoke 
that is deadly to insects. For fumigation purposes it is burned 
in a container thru which is blown a current of air from a hand 
operated fan. It is necessary for an operator to direct the smoke 
column into the place to be fumigated. A fire screen is supposed 



240 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


to prevent any of the burning material from being blown out 
with the smoke, and if properly operated, there is very little fire 
hazard in their use. 

This method is suitable only for a local fumigation and is 
not recomended for general use. No-Moz is practically the same. 

OTHER METHODS. 

There are several “Chemical Companies” which have a “special” 
fumigation method and furnish men to do the work. There is 
some advantage in having skilled workmen do the fumigating, 
but the “Special” method is usually the Hydrocyanic Acid Gas 
method or some variation of it. It is possible that some of these 
methods employ carbon bisulphide, hence before any method is 
approved, it should be passed on by the home office. 

The Bureau has made tests of some fumigants, to date as 
follows: 

ENOZ—Found to have the same fire hazard as kerosene and is 
therefore not thought to be sufficiently hazardous to prohibit. 
EXITO—Found to rate as more hazardous than turpentine and 
slightly less than gasoline and, therefore, not approved. The 
Exito Company fumigate mills by the Hydro-Cyanic Acid Gas 
Method, with their own men, which is, of course, approved. 


CHAPTER XVII 
MISCELLANEOUS 








S .. ,.M. , ... M fc. , M. a* - 




MISCELLANEOUS 


251 


CHAPTER XYII. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

STORAGE OF CALCIUM CARBIDE AND UNSDAKED LIME. 

Calcium Carbide, commonly known as carbide, is the chemical 
which when combined with water produces acetylene gas. This 
gas is very explosive and combustible. Except under special con¬ 
ditions, carbide should always be stored in detached building and 
always in a dry place, and in air tight cans. 

Unslaked lime should be piled well above any possible water 
line. If sufficient water is present to allow the lime to slake rapid¬ 
ly, a considerable amount of heat will be generated and may cause 
fire. 

TRUCK AND TRACTOR HAZARD. 

Trucks and tractors are coming into more general use for haul¬ 
ing to and from elevators and warehouses. As the trucks are owned 
by others than the assured, about all that can be done is to be 
prepared for any fire that does start. 

The driveway floor should be of concrete so that it will not 
soak up oil dripped on it. A carbon tetrachloride fire extinguisher 
should be provided in the driveway near the point where the front 
end of a truck would normally be. 

Where trucks, tractors or automobiles are stored on the prem¬ 
ises, every effort should be made to have them stored in a detached 
garage or if attached constructed according to the Bureau Stand¬ 
ard for fire resistive garage. 

FIRE RETARDANT PAINTS. 

To get the right start in this subject, let it be understood that 
there is no such thing as a fire resistive paint. Practically any 
paint will partly seal up the pores in the wood and fill the cracks, 
thus making it harder for a fire to get a start. Working on this 
idea, several brands of paint are manufactured which will retard 
the advance of fire to some extent. These are known as FIRE 
RETARDANT PAINTS. 

One class of these paints is the cold water variety, using no 
oil, and is always mixed at the factory according to secret formu¬ 
lae. They consist chiefly of some fire retardant chemical such as 
sodium salts, gypsum, or silicate, mixed with some suitable binder. 

Ordinary whitewash when first applied, is a fair fire retardant, 
but it flakes off with age and must be frequently renewed. 

The best fire retardant paint which has yet come to our atten¬ 
tion is known as PYRO NON FIRE RETARDANT PAINT. 

No credit is allowed for the use of these paints. 

OIL RESISTING PAINTS. 

In places where oil spatters on woodwork, an oil resisting 
paint may be used, which prevents the wood from absorbing the 
oil. Accumulated oil should be wiped off daily. 

Specifications for 

ATTACHED FIRE RESISTIVE GARAGE. 

Foreword: It is the intent of these specifications to outline 
a type of construction, when attached to other buildings, in which 
a motor car or truck may be stored without increasing the cost of 
insurance. In Mutual Insurance, this means that fires from this 
cause must be eliminated, so far as possible, and losses from such 
fires reduced to a minimum. Past experience has shown that the 
so-called fire resistive building comes very close to fulfilling this 
need. 


252 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


The word “building” will hereinafter be used to designate the 
building to which the garage is attached. 

Walls: To be of fire resistive material, brick, tile or concrete. 
For a one story garage the strength to be equal to that of an 8" 
brick wall. If building wall is of fire resistive material, it may 
serve as one side of garage by closing up all openings, if any by 
bricking up or equivalent construction. The wall on building side 
must be without openings. When cement block construction is 
used, the mixture must not be weaker than 1:6 or with sand and 
stone 1:3:5. 

Roof: To be of non-combustible material throughout, concrete, 
tile or metal. 

Floor: To be of concrete with a smooth troweled surface slop¬ 
ing to drain 1" in 4'. 

Windows: If on sides at right angles to building, to be metal 
sash and wire glass construction. 

Doors: When on sides at right angles to building, doors are 
to be two-ply wood, metal clad on inside or of equally fire resistive 
construction. 

Note: If above door and window construction is not followed 
out, on sides at right angles to' building and building is frame 
then the garage wall must be extended 5' as shown in figure 63. 
If fire doors do not swing back so as to protect the building, wall 
shall be extended as shown in figure 63. When building wall is 
brick or other non-combustible material, all openings within 5 ' of 
the garage shall be closed. 

Drain: Preferably to sewer or cesspool. If above ground, it 
must be located so that burning oil or gasoline will be carried away 
from all buildings. 

Ventilation: Provision must be made for ventilation at top, 
and at sides within two feet of floor. Vents may be provided with 
traps to be closed in freezing weather if garage is heated, traps to 
be arranged to open automatically in the event of an explosion. 

Gasoline: Gasoline tank if above ground, to be at least 25' 
from all buildings. When tank is buried at least 3' and approved 
pump is used, pump may be in garage and tank must be installed 
in accordance with pages M9 and 10 of the schedule. 

Special Conditions: Should be referred to the Mutual Fire Pre¬ 
vention Bureau for permission to vary from above where neces¬ 
sary. 

DUST EXPLOSIONS AND THEIR PREVENTION 

The subject of dust explosions is just now in prominence on 
account of the recent large explosion in the Armour Elevator at 
South Chicago, but the subject is not by any means a new one. 
The first of such explosions of which we have record occurred in 
the old mill “A” of the Washburn Crosby plant at Minneapolis in 
1878. Eighteen men were killed. Since that time there have been 
twenty-four serious dust explosions in flour mills and grain eleva¬ 
tors, not counting innumerable small ones of which we have no rec¬ 
ord. These twenty-four explosions represent a loss of something 
over $8,000,000 as well as 120 lives. The causes include open flame, 
gas ignition, foreign substance thru oat huller, lighted match in 
flour bin, electric motor, light globe in grain bin, and lighted cigar- 




MISCELLANEOUS 


253 



Figure 63. 

Bureau Standard 277. 






























254 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


ette. These losses occurred in all classes of risks from frame to 
reinforced concrete, the largest loss of life occurring in a cribbed 
terminal in Buffalo, where thirty men were killed and seventy-five 
injured. Five of these explosions came in plants owned by a 
nationally known company who are notorious as poor housekeepers. 
(The Mutuals do not write any of their risks.) 

In the recent explosion in the Armour elevator, we have an 
example of the terrific force which may be built up by a series of 
small successive blasts, when confined. The first explosion occurred 
in the upper portion of the receiving house which was located at 
the west end of the tanks, and did not break through the building. 
A succession of blasts, each stronger than the last, carried through 
the conveyor galleries, both above and below the tanks, and 
exerted the greatest force on the southeast corner of the tanks, on 
the opposite side of the building from where the first one started. 
As the direct cause is unknown (theories range from a lighted 
cigarette to spontaneous combustion) we can deal only with the 
indirect causes, which are outlined in the conclusions given below, 
which were taken from the report issued by the Underwriters 
Grain Association. 

1. It is a mistake to try to operate with open bins on account 
of the difficulty of controlling the dust with such an arrangement. 
Certainly the danger of having dust around should clinch the argu¬ 
ment against the open bin. 

2. The old idea advocated by the insurance people of having 
driers, bleachers, dust houses and any such activity which is haz¬ 
ardous in itself and dirty as well, located in structures detached 
from the main elevator premises, is evidently nearer right than 
might have been supposed. It is clear now that fire resistive con¬ 
struction, while it may do away with combustible material, thereby 
reducing the danger of fire and destruction of property by fire, in 
no wise diminishes the explosion danger and may even, on account 
of its tightness, its rigidity, and the ease with which a shock in 
one part is communicated to all parts, magnify the explosion dan¬ 
ger. It is therefore advisable to go back to the old custom of 
locating all such hazardous and dirty processes in structures safely 
detached from the main premises. 

3. It would appear that it is inadvisable to erect such large 
units as this property, at least until the present regulations which 
prevent the use of air suction apparatus on all grain handling 
equipment have been amended so that such apparatus can be used 
throughout. 

4. It would appear to be high time to put an end to the 
jockeying which has been going on for years over the installation 
and use of air suction apparatus in grain handling risks and 
require its use without exception, subject to proper regulation. 

5. All small ledges, sills, etc., should be finished as smooth 
as possible, thereby eliminating places where dust may lodge. 
Spaces underneath conveyor belts, and machinery should be easily 
accessible to the sweeper’s broom. 

These five points sum up the arguments against dust explosion 
and coincicle exactly with ideas which we have championed for the 
last ten years. The whole point of the matter is that CLEAN 
MILLS AND ELEVATORS DO NOT EXPLODE. Ventilation is a 


MISCELLANEOUS 


255 


big step toward a clean house. Below is described a simple system 
of ventilation which is now in use, and giving excellent results, in 
the concrete grain storage of the Midland Milling Co., Kansas City. 

An ordinary 20" vent pipe, without fan or suction of any kind 
is run through the roof to a height of about 4'. One of these vents 
is placed over each end of the conveyor belt, the one at the receiv¬ 
ing end being fitted with a funnel shaped arrangement such as is 
ordinarily used over a blacksmith’s forge. This funnel comes 
down to within about 10" of the point where the grain is discharged 
onto the belt, and at times the air currents are so strong that 
small grains of wheat are lifted to the roof. It seems that this 
would be impossible by natural ventilation alone, but the fact 
remains that it is done. 

The same idea has been used in ventilating the pit below the 
bins except that a larger pipe is used, and is run out at the end 
of the tanks and up to a height of about 20'. 

Excellent results are obtained by the use of this system and 
we strongly recommend such an installation in dusty houses, and 
that all prospective builders be urged to install some such system 
when they build. 

VENTILATION. 

By the term ventilation, we mean the passing of air through 
the building and various machines to carry off the hot damp air 
that is a necessary evil of the milling process. 

By proper ventilation it is possible to so control the amount 
of moisture in the stock in process that the so-called invisible loss 
may be largely reduced. 

One of the most important results of ventilation is the elimina¬ 
tion of dust laden air, thus preventing the destructive dust ex¬ 
plosion. There are many happenings in mills and elevators that are 
not readily recognized as dust explosions that can be explained 
in no other way. When foreign substance goes through the roll or 
attrition mill and sets fire to the cloth dust collector three floors 
above, there has been a dust explosion. Not severe enough to 
rupture the wind trunk but a dust explosion nevertheless. 

These fires can be prevented by the use of the all-metal dust 
collector vented to the outside of the building, so that the explosion 
will have a free vent to outside air and not being confined, will 
not do any appreciable damage. 

Suction on rolls and elevator stands is also essential to a clean 
well ventilated mill. In the operation of the elevators, the cups 
and belts set up currents of air that will blow out through any 
crack or crevice. If there is a suction on the elevator heads, there 
will be a slight vacuum created that will prevent blowing out and 
also carry away the light, combustible dust. In the case of flour 
mills, the suction of elevators carrying ground stock are adjusted 
so that only the hot damp air is taken off. 

Needless to say, these various ventilating systems make the 
mill much safer from the fire hazard standpoint and safety to life 
and also a more healthy place for human beings to work. Proper 
ventilation is reflected in the increased efficiency of the employees. 
Condensation and so-called sweating of spouts, elevators, and roll 
housing as well as condensation in various sections of the build- 


256 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


ings will be entirely avoided by proper ventilation. Consequently 
choke-ups and other hazards that breed fires are avoided. 

CLEAN MILLS DO NOT EXPLODE and one of the most essen¬ 
tial and important means of keeping the mill clean is to have 
proper ventilation. 

METAL LATH AND CEMENT PLASTER. 

The use of metal lath and cement plaster for motor room, 
stairway enclosures, and such purposes is probably superior to any 
other class of construction because of its cheapness, ease of applica¬ 
tion, superior fire resisting qualities, and its ability to withstand 

vibration. . 

The following test demonstrates its fire, resistive qualities: 

METAL LATH AD CEMENT PLASTER PARTITIONS TO 
ENCLOSURES. 

Tests at Chicago, October 15-16, 1918. 

The tests were made by the Underwriters Laboratories at the 
request of the National Association of Metal Lath Mfgrs. There 
were in attendance representatives of the U. S. Housing Commis¬ 
sion, Lath Mfgrs., several architects, Boston Mutual Labora- 
tories otc 

The construction was built to ^represent, so far as possible, 
the side wall of a house. Studding 2" x4", metal lath on the out¬ 
side weight 3.4 lbs. per sq. yd. NOT FURRED OUT FROM THE 
STUDDING. The plaster was what is known as three coat work, 
with a smooth finish on the outside. There was a coat of plaster 
on the inside of the lath between the studding. The inside finish 
was such as is ordinarily used with metal lath weighing 2.5 lbs. 
per sq. yd. A section of floor was bulit in without fire stop. 

Two samples exactly alike were built and placed in the furnace 
with the fire on what would be the outside of the house. 

1st Test. This sample was subjected to the fire for one hour, 
heat according to the standard test curve. The temperature aver¬ 
aged about 1500 deg. At the end of one hour the panel was pulled 
out and subjected to a standard fire stream for three minutes. 

RESULT: The outside coats spalled off, but the scratch coat 
was cracked only, and in no place did the fire get through. The 
studding was scorched and in two or three places charred. It 
was the opinion of those with whom I talked that the scorching 
would have been neglibile if the lath had been furred out V 2 " 
as is customary and which we have recommended in our work. 

2nd Test. The test in this case was carried to destruction, 
that is until the fire broke through on the inside. The time was 
103 minutes. The test was hardly representative because the out¬ 
side coat came off in the first three minutes due either to too much 
moisture or to extremely rapid heating up. Temp. 1300-1800 deg. F. 

CONCLUSION: These tests emphasize the fire resistive qual¬ 
ities for motor room and bleacher room construction. In addition 
such a wall is dust and bug proof. Something that most certainly 
cannot be said of asbestos lined construction. 

The cost is no greater than frame sheathing and much more 
satisfactory. 

The plaster should be 25% cement. 


MISCELLANEOUS 


257 


NOTE: The actual mixture was 1 part Portland cement and 
2 Vz parts clean sharp sand and hydrated lime equal to 10% by 
volume of the cement. A small amount of hair was added. This 
amounts to 27% plus cement content. 

Its ability to "withstand shock is shown by the following 
article: 

“An Earthquake, of such violence that thousands of dollars 
in property was destroyed, visited California recently. Fronts 
of buildings were thrown in streets, telephone and electric power 
was cut off, water mains broken and business in general was de¬ 
moralized. 

“The shock of its life was accorded Metal Lath, which is used 
to a large extent in that section of the country and, as usual, it 
came through with flying colors. With its strand of steel gripping 
the plaster, not a single failure of plaster on Metal Lath was re¬ 
ported. When it is considered that all other bases had the plaster 
stripped from them, that the shocks we*e severe enough to level 
masonry walls to the streets, the value of Metal Lath becomes 
apparent. Herein actual performance is a test of sturdiness and 
tenacity a hundred fold more severe than the Omaha distortion 
tests described in the last Metal Lath News, yet the same unqualified 
perfect results were attained. The experiences of the Porto Rican 
earthquake of two years ago were repeated and once more Metal 
Lath proved its worth.” 

For motor rooms the plaster may be made by mixing one part 
of cement with three parts of ordinary pulp plaster. For general 
purposes, however, the formula above should be used. 


THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 



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THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


259 



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THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


Chemical Extinguishers .... 

Chemical Pails. 

Chimneys . 

Chimneys, Installation Rules 

Choke Coils . 

Choke Ups .. 

Chlorine Bleachers . 


Page 

163-164 

163 

153 

155 

85 

134 

24-26 


Clauses, Watchman with Clock. 221 

Watchman with Messenger Service. 222 

Watchman with Combined Service. 223 


Clearance of Boiler 

Breeching. 

Stack . 

Stack (Cut) ... 


Cloth Dust Collectors. 24 

Clothes Lockers . 27 

Coal, Rules for Piling.112-113 

Cob House . 114 

Cob Burner, Description and Cut. 126 

Conveyors, Belt . ISO 

Dead End, Description and Cut. 130 

Grain . 130 

Screw . 129 

Through Fire Wall (Cut). 136 

Combustion, Spontaneous, of Coal. 112 

Combustion, Spontaneous, of Dairy Feeds. 131 

Coloring of Different Construction. 15 

Co-operative Elevators . 41 

Conventions, Electric .. 83 

Couplings . 181 

Cuspidors . 128 


Dead End Conveyors. 130 

Dead End Conveyors (Cut) . 130 

Deisel Cycle Engine.114-115 

Depreciation . 59 

Direct Current . 81 

Drives, Belt. 134 

Drives, Rope . 134 

Dry Power Extinguishers. 166 

Dressing Rooms. 27 

Drip Loops. 85 

Drop Cords . 99 

Dryers, Grain . 121 

Dryers Meal (Cut) . 28 

Dryers, Meal . 27 

Dust Collectors, Cloth . 24 

Dust Collectors, Metal . 24-129 

Dust Explosions, Prevention of.252-254 

Dust Houses ....—.. 137 



















































THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


Electric Equipment 

Heaters. 

Lamps . 

Lighting . 

Electrical Conventions ... 

Definition . 

Inspection . 

Symbols . 

Electricity, Static . 

Electrolytic Bleacher. 

Elevators 

Approach of . 

Boot Pit, with Figure 

Bucket, The. 

Business Conditions . 

Co-operative . 

Encumbrance . 

Exposure of. 

Farmers . 

Fire Resistive. 

Foundation of. 

Independent .. 

Inspection of .. 

Line . 

Management of.. 

Non-Chokable . 

Outside Condition of., 

Ownership .. 

Survey of . 

Title. 


Page 


151 

99 

98 

83 

81 

83 

83 

101 

26 


42 

142 
141 

49 
41 

46 
47-73 

41 

50 

47 
41 

41-46 

41 

45-49 

143 
47 

45 
47 

46 


Emergency Switch. 9 q 

Enclosure of Motors.....] 90-97 

Engines 

Internal Combustion, Installation of. 119 

Hot Tube .* H6 

Tank in Base. 116 


Enoz Fumigation. 240 

Example of Valuation Data. 53 

Exhaust Pipe. 116 

Exhaust Pipe Through Frame Wall, Figure. 117 

Exito Fumigation . 240 

Explosions, Dust . 21 

Exposure . 21 

Extinguishers 

Carbon Tetrachloride Type. 165 

Dry Power. 166 

Foam Type. 165 

Soda and Acid. 164 














































THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


Fairbanks Motors . 

Farm Lighting Plants.... 

Farmers’ Elevators. 

Fire Brigades, Private ... 

Fire Resistive Building Construction 

Fire Resistive 

Elevators . 

Power House and Office. 

Garage Specifications. 

Garage Figure. 

Fire Retardant Paints. 

Fire Stop in Spout, Figure. 

Floors, Figures of.• • •. 

Floors, Valuation of. 

Flour Mills 

History of. 

Inspection of. 

Survey of . 

Survey of, Example.. 

Lightning Protection of. 

Foam Type Extinguishers. 

Foundations ... 

Foundations, Valuation of... 

Frequency . 

Freezing Out Method Fumigation... 
Fuel Piping Arrangement, Figure... 
Fuel Supply, Oil Engine.. 

Fumigation 

Carbon Bi-Sulphide Method- 

Enoz . 

Exito ... 

Freezing Out Method. 

Fumoth . 

Heat Method of.... 

Hydro Cyanic Acid Gas Method 
No-Moz . 

Fuses... 

Furnaces, Hot Air. 

Fumoth Fumigation . 


Page 

80-90 

100 

41 

168 

201 


50 

50 

251 

253 

251 

136 

60 

52 


11 

23 

14 

21 

194 

165 

47-72 

51 

82 

239 

117 

116 


239 

240 
240 
239 
239 

235 

236 
239 

85 

151 

239 


Garage, Fire Resistive Specifications of. 251 

Garage, Fire Resistive, Figure.... 253 

Gas Engine Hazard . 114 

Gas Filled Electric Lamps. 99 

Gas Heaters . 153 

Gas, Natural Lighting . 128 

Gasoline Lamps .... 128 

Gas Producer Power . 118 














































THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


Page 


Gas Stoves . 153 

General Electric Form L Motor. 89 

Generator, Electric . 98 

Glue Pots. 121 

Grain 

Conveyors . 130 

Doors . 73 

Driers . 121 

Elevator, Lightning Protection of. 193 

Handlers, Pneumatic . 135 

Randolph, Randolph Driers, Figure of. 123 

Separators . 122 

Grinders . 131 

Williams . 131 

Williams, Figure . 132 

Grounding of Transformer. 85 


Hand Pumps . 164 

Hazards 

External . 71 

Moral. 29 

Special . 21 

Truck and Tractor. 251 


Heat Method Fumigation. 

Heaters, Electric . 

Heaters, Gas . 

Heating .. 

Hoppered Elevator Legs.. 

Horse Power, Boilers. 

Hose ... 

Hose and Hydrant House, Figure... 

Hot Air Furnaces. 

Hot Tube Engines. 

Hydrants . 

Hydro Cyanic Acid Gas Fumigation 


235 
151 
153 
151 
142 

62 

181 

182 

151 

116 

182 

236 


Independent Elevator . 

Industrial Process Bleacher. 

Inspection, Flour Mills. 

Inspection, Elevators . 

Installation Rules, Stoves and Chimneys. 

Installation of Office Stove, Figure. 

Insurance List ... 

Interior Fire Protection. 

Interior Signaling System. •••••'.• 

Internal Combustion Engine, Installation Rules of 

Internal Resistance Motors. 

Internal Resistance Motors, Wiring Diagram of.. . 
Iron Cladding . 


41 

26 

23 

41-46 

155 

154 

22 

21 

169 

114-115 

89 

90 
72 















































THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 

Page 

Kerosene Lamps . 128 

Lamps 

Acetylene . 128 

Electric . 99 

Electric Gas Filled. 99 

Gasoline . 128 

Kerosene . 128 

Natural Gas . 128 

Lighting, Electric . 98 

Lighting Plants, Farm Electric.. 100 

Lighting, Series . 98 

Lightning Arresters . 84 

Lightning Protection 

Methods of . 191 

Grain Elevator . 193 

Warehouse . 193 

Flour Mills . 194 

Telephone Lines . 194 

Lime, Storage of. 251 

Line Elevators . 41 

Low Voltage Release. 87-90 

Machinery, Valuation Data. 58 

Magnetic Separator . 26 

Management of Elevator. 49 

Man Lift . 128 

Matches, Safety Type. 128 

Matches, Old Style. 128 

Meal Dryers . 27 

Metal Dust Collectors. 24-129 

Metal Lath & Plaster, Tests of. 256 

Mills, Attrition . 131 

Moisture Testers . 121 

Moral Hazard . 29 

Motors 

Enclosures of . 90-97 

Fairbanks . 89-90 

G. E. Form L. 89 

Internal Resistance . 89 

Internal Resistance, Figure. 90 

Squirrel Cage . 89 

Slip Ring . 89 

Slip Ring, Hazard Form. 89 

Wagner . 89 


Names, Building Parts. 

Natural Gas Lamps. 

Non-Chokable Elevator Boots 


61 

128 

134 













































THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


Page 

Non-Chokable Elevators . 143 

Non-Freezing Solution for Water Barrels. !!..!!! 163 

Notations, Plan . 18-19 

Office Stove Installation.153-155 

Oil Engine Hazard. 114 

Oil Resisting Paint. 261 

Openings, Communicating . 27 

Otto Cycle Engine.114-115 

Overload Relays . 87-90 


Painting, Cost of. 52 

Paints, Fire Retardant. 251 

Paints, Oil Resisting. 251 

Plan Notations . 18-19 

Pneumatic Grain Handler. 135 

Portable Electric Lamps. 99 

Power Factor . 82 

Power House Construction. 113 

Powder Extinguishers . 166 

Power Plant of Elevator. 48 

Protection, Interior Fire. 21 

Purifiers . 24 


Randolph Grain Dryer. 123 

Rating . 23 

Relc Signaling System. 170 

Rolls . 26 

Roof Boards, Cost Data. 52 

Roofing . 71 

Rope Drives . 134 

Rosettes . 98 

Rules for Piling of Coal.112-113 


Safety Matches . 

Sand . 

Sawdust . 

Scourers . 

Scuppers . 

Screens, Window . 

Screw Conveyors . 

Semi-Deisel Engine . 

Semi-Mill Construction . 

Semi-Mill Construction, Specifications of 

Separators, Grain .. 

Shaft Through Bins. 

Sheathing, Cost Data. 

Signaling Systems, Interior. 

Size Table, Wire. 

Slip Ring Motors. 


128 

163 

163 

23 

202-204 

72 

129 

115 

202 

206 

122 

134 

52 

169 

86 

89 
















































THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 

Page 

Slow Burning Construction. 201 

Slow Burning Construction, Specifications of. 204 

Smoking . 128 

Soda and Acid Extinguishers. 164 

Soda and Acid Standpipes. 166 

Soldering Irons . 121 

Soldering Pots . 121 

Spark Hazard . Ill 

Sparks, Locomotive . 71 

Spontaneous Combustion in Coal. 112 

Spontaneous Combustion in Dairy Feed. 131 

Spouts . 23 

Spouts, Fire Stop in.. 136 

Squirrel Cage Motors. 89 

Stack, Clearance of. Ill 

Stack, Clearance of, Figure. Ill 

Stair Wells . 202 

Standard Mill Construction. 201 

Standard Mill Construction, Specifications of.... 204 

Standpipe and Hose. 166 

Standpipes, Soda and Acid. 166 

Starters . 87-88 

Starter, Two Fuse, Diagram.. 99 

Static Collector, Figure. 101 

Static, Electricity . 101 

Steam Jets . 166 

Steam Pipe through Floors. 152 

Steam Power . Ill 

Stove, Office .153-155 

Strut Boards . 142 

Superior Construction .202-206 

Surveys 

Elevators . 44 

Example . 21 

Flour Mills. 14 

Switch, Emergency Electric. 90 

Symbols . 83 

Tank in Base Engine. 116 

Telegraphy, Wireless . 98 

Telephone, Lightning Arrester on. 194 

Temperature Curve . 213 

Three Phase Current. 82 

Three Wire Circuits. 98 

Transformers . 84 

Transformers, Grounding of. 85 

Trolley Circuits . 98 

Truck and Tractor Hazard. 251 

Two Fuse Auto Starters, Diagram.. 99 

Underground Water Supply... 181 


















































THE FIELDMEN’S MANUAL 


Page 

Valuation Data .22-51-58 

Ventilation of Concrete Storage. 255 

Washers, Wheat . 24 

Watchman Service . 221 

Watchman With Approved Clock Clause. 221 

Watchman With Combined Service. 223 

Watchman With Messenger Service. 222 

Watchman Stations, Inspection of. 224 

Water Barrels and Buckets. 161 

Watt, Electrical . 82 

Watt, Hour . 82 

Wheat Washers . 24 

Williams Grinders .131-132 

Wire, Asbestos Covered. 85 

Wire, Sizes of. 86 

Wire, Weatherproof . 85 























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